Sony Pictures has released the official trailer for 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, the haunting follow-up to this year’s 28 Years Later and the latest chapter in the iconic post-apocalyptic horror franchise that redefined the zombie genre. The new film, directed by Nia DaCosta, is set to hit theaters on January 16, 2026, and teases the shocking possibility of a cure for the deadly “Rage Virus.”
A Dark Continuation of a Horror Legacy
The 28 Days Later universe, first launched by Danny Boyle and Alex Garland, has long captivated audiences with its raw, terrifying portrayal of humanity’s downfall. Now, more than two decades since the first outbreak, The Bone Temple plunges deeper into the nightmare — shifting focus from the infected to the horrors that humans inflict on each other.
As seen in the trailer, The Bone Temple continues the story from 28 Years Later, where Britain remains quarantined and overrun by evolved “Alpha” infected. The film reintroduces Dr. Ian Kelson (Ralph Fiennes), a survivor turned cult-like leader who builds a temple from human bones — a symbol of both loss and faith in a world beyond saving.
Joining him are Spike (Alfie Williams), the now-teenaged survivor who escaped the previous film’s tragic finale, and Sir Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell), a ruthless cult leader whose influence stretches across what remains of civilization.
The sequel’s official synopsis reveals that Kelson “finds himself in a shocking new relationship—with consequences that could change the world,” while Spike’s encounter with Crystal becomes “a nightmare he can’t escape.”
“In The Bone Temple, the infected are no longer the greatest threat to survival—the inhumanity of the survivors can be stranger and more terrifying.”
The Return of a Familiar Face
Fans of the original 28 Days Later will be thrilled to learn that Cillian Murphy is returning to the franchise as Jim — the former London courier who survived the initial outbreak and vanished from the storyline for nearly three decades. His reappearance marks one of the most anticipated character comebacks in recent horror cinema.
The ensemble cast also includes Erin Kellyman, Emma Laird, and Maura Bird as Jimmy Ink, Jimmima, and Jimmy Jones, three members of Crystal’s brutal cult.
Trailer Breakdown: Redemption or Damnation?
The newly released trailer paints a chilling picture of a world beyond salvation. It opens with a tense exchange between Dr. Kelson and Crystal, who accuses him of being “Old Nick” — a reference to Satan — as we glimpse the macabre Bone Temple.
Flashbacks to Kelson’s pre-apocalypse life are intercut with scenes of Spike’s indoctrination into Crystal’s cult. Meanwhile, Samson — the terrifying Alpha infected played by Chi Lewis-Parry — makes his menacing return.
In a pivotal moment, Kelson declares, “I believe the infection can be treated,” before injecting Samson with an experimental serum that could either save humanity or doom it forever.
The trailer closes on that high-stakes moment — the injection plunging into Samson’s arm — as the screen fades to black and the sound of distant screams echoes through.
What’s Next for the Franchise
Sony has confirmed that The Bone Temple will not be the end of the saga. A fourth and final installment is already in early development, continuing the story’s evolution from viral horror to existential apocalypse.
With Nia DaCosta’s vision and Ralph Fiennes’ chilling performance leading the charge, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple promises to blend visceral horror with psychological depth — a return to form for one of cinema’s most influential horror franchises.
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple arrives in theaters worldwide on January 16, 2026.
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