28 Years Later 3: The Horror Saga Continues!
Cillian Murphy is set to make his franchise comeback
"28 Years Later: The Bone Temple" will be released in early 2026. But it is already clear what will happen next. The industry magazine Deadline is reporting that another part is already a done deal – and Hollywood star Cillian Murphy could also finally celebrate his franchise comeback.
Director Danny Boyle has been saying for some time that he would like to turn "28 Years Later" into an entire trilogy. In the past, he has expressed confidence that Murphy will be back. The actor starred in the first film "28 Days Later" in 2002. Deadline now reports that Murphy is currently in talks to return in "28 Years Later 3".
Boyle is expected to return as director, though "The Bone Temple" was helmed by "Candyman" director Nia DaCosta. Meanwhile, the script for "28 Years Later 3" is once again being written by Alex Garland. The "Ex Machina" director has already written the screenplay for the original film and "28 Years Later".
But first, fans can expect to see "The Bone Temple" in cinemas from January 16, 2026. It is not yet known when the third film in the "28 Years Later" saga will be released. But we will of course keep you up to date!
The iconic 28 film series
Since its first installment in 2002, the "28" film series has established itself as one of the most influential modern horror franchises. With "28 Days Later", Danny Boyle and Alex Garland created a film that made the zombie genre popular again. They did not rely on a classic undead myth, but on the so-called "Rage" virus. The infected are not shuffling creatures, but raging, uncontrollable people whose aggression is the true horror. This approach gave the genre a new urgency and energy that still resonates today.
"28 Weeks Later" picked up some time later, expanding the world and intensifying its social dimensions. The film shifted the focus more strongly to political and military issues, collective responsibility and the fragility of state structures. While the first part showed the terror of sudden collapse, the second dealt with the risks of reconstruction, which is never free of mistakes and moral dilemmas. This thematic focus made the series seem more mature without losing its immediate, physical intensity.
28 Years Later trilogy
The third film, "28 Years Later", took the series into a new phase. This time the cast included "Harry Potter" star Ralph Fiennes, "Killing Eve" actress Jodie Comer and Aaron Taylor-Johnson. A clear feature of the series was the ever-changing cast. Each film has featured new actors and characters – until now. "The Bone Temple" deviates from this principle. Some of the actors from the previous film are back, including Fiennes and Taylor-Johnson, for example. Nevertheless, the aim is to tell independent stories within the "28 Years Later" trilogy. An important connecting element between the films will probably be Spike. The character played by Alfie Williams is to play a central role in all three films and thus form the coherent core of the trilogy.
The success of the series
The popularity of the series goes far beyond its suspenseful staging and iconic images. It arises from the combination of a frighteningly plausible threat scenario with an emotionally tangible humanity. The films ask how we behave when all certainties fall away, and they show how thin the layer of civilization really is. At the same time, they succeed in telling intimate stories about guilt, fear, solidarity and hope. The fact that the films are still quoted, analyzed and developed further today is due to the fact that they not only provide moments of shock, but also reveal patterns of human behavior in a state of emergency.
