28 Years Later The Bone Temple Release Cast and Cillian Murphy Return Details

The Rage Virus isn't the only thing spreading in post-apocalyptic Britain; human depravity is taking center stage. 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, the highly anticipated sequel to 28 Years Later, is set to haunt theaters on January 16, 2026. Directed by Nia DaCosta and written by franchise veteran Alex Garland, the film serves as the second installment in a planned trilogy.

28 Years Later The Bone Temple Release and Cast Details

The story picks up immediately after the previous film's cliffhanger. Young Spike (Alfie Williams) encounters a ruthless faction led by Jimmy (Jack O'Connell), a man whose crew seems more interested in slicing through survivors than just avoiding the infected. The official synopsis suggests a shift in the horror dynamic: the infected are no longer the primary threat—survivors' inhumanity is.

At the heart of the film is Ralph Fiennes as Dr. Ian Kelson. He resides within the titular Bone Temple, a spire of skulls that serves as a backdrop for a "debate about the nature of evil." Fiennes has teased that the film explores the potential for destruction within the human soul, specifically through a subplot involving a monstrous alpha infected named Samson.

The Return of Jim: Cillian Murphy’s Involvement

The biggest buzz surrounds the confirmed return of Oscar-winner Cillian Murphy. While he sat out the first film of this new trilogy, he'll reprise his iconic role as Jim from 28 Days Later. Though his appearance in The Bone Temple is expected to be brief and positioned toward the end, it's a strategic move to set the stage for a major role in the trilogy's conclusion.