The 28 Years Later franchise is reportedly set to make a third film in the trilogy following the positive response to the latest spin-off.
The original 28 Days Later film was released in 2002 and met with a huge critical response. 28 Weeks Later, a sequel, was released in 2007, and in 2025, a third sequel, 28 Years Later, was released, both having a lot of success.
In 2026, another film in the same universe is set to be released, 28 Years Later: Bone Temple, which will star Jack O’Connell and Ralph Fiennes.
It has been reported that the huge success of initial previews of the film has encouraged Sony to start working on a new film in the horror franchise.
Deadline reported that Alex Garland will return to write the third film, while 28 Days Later actor Cillian Murphy is in talks to reprise his role in the 2002 film as Jim.
The Steve actor served as an executive producer on 28 Years Later and Bone Temple, and is also set to appear briefly in Bone Temple.
Sony had the option to greenlight three movies at once when it won rights to the 28 Years Later trilogy. However, a decision was made to shoot the first two films back-to-back first before greenlighting production on a third.
Danny Boyle, who directed 28 Days Later, returned to direct 28 Years Later, and Candyman filmmaker Nia DaCosta directed Bone Temple.
Boyle previously confirmed they intended to make the series a trilogy. The 68-year-old director told Collider: ‘There’s a story arc across all three films. The principle of this is what we sold to Sony. And they immediately said, “Don’t say it’s a trilogy.” We said, “No, we are going to say it’s a trilogy.” Because it is! We’re not going to lie to people!’
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He added that while different characters may be the focus in different films, there was always an intention to return to Cillian’s character Jim, in a big way in the third film.
‘Not all the characters run through all three films, but some of them do. There’s a character in this one, played by Ralph Fiennes, who is a massive part of the second film.
‘Cillian Murphy is an element in the second film and a very dominant element in the third film.’
The director also confirmed that 28 Years Later would not continue some of the plot elements introduced in 28 Weeks Later, which was directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo.
Boyle explained: ‘What Alex and I decided to do was make an original film. But it’s a story influenced by 28 Days Later.
‘But it does not follow what happened in 28 Weeks Later, where the virus got into Europe. For story reasons, we suggested that Europe had driven the virus back across the channel. Then they could isolate the island of Britain and let it die out.’
What is 28 Years Later about?
28 Days Later is a film that takes place, you guessed it, 28 days after the outbreak of the ‘rage’ virus. Much like a classic zombie movie, the virus can be transmitted through blood and other bodily fluids, but unlike your classic zombie flick, those infected aren’t slow, stumbling shells of people.
Instead, those with the rage virus are animalistic, violent, and quick, and pose a big threat to humanity.
The second film’s ending suggested that the outbreak was at first contained to the UK, only to then spread to Paris, and likely the rest of mainland Europe.
This storyline was axed for the 28 Years Later franchise, with the virus confirmed to have stayed firmly in the UK.
The third film – 28 Years Later – follows a group of survivors who have managed to survive the virus and are trying their best to live on an island off the UK.
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