First images and trailer for 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple

Update (September 3, 2025, 9:30 a.m.): The "28 Years Later: The Bone Temple" trailer is here! You can find it at the end of the article.

News from the infected: After "28 Years Later" won over viewers and critics, the sequel "The Bone Temple" is coming next year. The first images have now been published via Rolling Stone – and the trailer is probably also imminent!

It's not unusual for a photo spread to appear in a well-known magazine shortly before the release of a trailer. And indeed, Hollywood insider Daniel Richtman has also announced that the "28 Years Later: The Bone Temple" trailer will be released on Wednesday, September 3! Of course, we'll post it in this article as soon as it appears.

The plot of the sequel picks up directly from its predecessor. At the center is Spike, played by Alfie Williams, who gets caught up in the machinations of a dangerous personality cult. The cult is led by Sir Jimmy Crystal and is at war with Dr. Kelson and the dangerous alpha virus carrier Samson. Jack O'Connell describes his character Jimmy as "dark and twisted", shaped by a traumatic childhood that was already hinted at in the previous film. Quote:

We're in an apocalyptic world, and evil and darkness are two of the forces that have been able to still exist, and he revels in them."

The cast will be joined by Emma Laird and Erin Kellyman, who embody members of Jimmy's cult. According to O'Connell, these characters will be both dangerous and fascinating. In parallel, the film will shed more light on the backstory of Dr. Kelson, who will of course once again be played by Ralph Fiennes. His ambivalent relationship with Alpha Samson also plays a central role.

The film was shot entirely on real locations in England. The decision to use real backdrops is intended to reinforce the raw, menacing atmosphere of the series and draw the audience even deeper into the world ravaged by the infected.

The film will also take no prisoners when it comes to action and gore. Quote director Nia DaCosta:

"As a viewer, I love gore and body horror and visceral effects. But when I'm directing it's more about what effect I want to create and what I want people to feel. There wasn't a mandate that it had to be super-gory, but there are some moments."

With "The Bone Temple", the director not only wants to offer suspense and horror, but also address deeper issues:

"The concept of the rage virus gives us the opportunity to really talk about humanity. In particular in this film, [it's about] the nature of evil and how we contextualize that in a world with a lot of belief systems that have been created in order to handle the meaninglessness of existence. That's one of my favorite things about this genre of film – it's the look at humanity and what we do to each other. In the film, we have the infected and we have people who aren't infected. Who's really doing worse things?"

"28 Years Later: The Bone Temple" will be released in cinemas on January 16, 2026.

The "28" franchise: How Danny Boyle's vision redefined the zombie genre

When "28 Days Later" was released in cinemas in 2002, it fundamentally changed the zombie genre. Directed by Danny Boyle and with a screenplay by Alex Garland, the British film brought an unexpected intensity and psychological depth to a genre that was largely characterized by clichés at the time. Instead of classic, slowly shuffling undead, the film presented infected people – raging, aggressive victims of a "rage virus". This concept lent the horror film a frightening closeness to reality and set new standards for suspense and pace.

Realism instead of the supernatural

One of the biggest innovations was the absence of supernatural elements. The horror did not come from magic or mysticism, but from a scientifically conceivable virus. This down-to-earth approach struck a chord at a time when global pandemics and social fears were becoming increasingly prevalent. Boyle and Garland focused not only on the horror of the infected, but also on the behavior of the survivors, adding a socio-critical dimension to the genre.

Visual style as a trademark

"28 Days Later" also set new standards in terms of film technology. Large parts were shot with digital cameras, which was unusual in 2002. The blurred images, gloomy colors and deserted streets of London created an oppressively realistic atmosphere. The iconic scene in which main character Jim (Cillian Murphy) walks through a depopulated London remains one of the best-known images of modern horror films to this day and illustrates the isolation of a collapsed society.

"28 Weeks Later": political escalation

The sequel "28 Weeks Later" (2007), directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, continued the vision and added a political undertone. While the military and governments try to contain the catastrophe, the film shows how power struggles and mistrust exacerbate an already precarious situation. This made the franchise not only a horror highlight, but also a mirror of social structures in times of crisis.

Influence on pop culture and genre

The "28" franchise inspired numerous films, series and games. Works such as "The Walking Dead", "World War Z" and "The Last of Us" adopted elements such as fast infected, morally complex characters and a focus on emotional stories. Boyle and Garland proved that zombie horror can offer not only shock moments but also profound social issues.

A modern revival

Boyle and Garland returned with "28 Years Later" (2025), proving the franchise's continued relevance. The film introduced fresh characters and topical issues such as extremism and social division, while retaining the horror of the original.

Conclusion: More than just zombie horror

The "28" franchise revolutionized the zombie genre. Instead of relying on stereotypical undead, it posed questions about humanity, morality and survival. With its realistic approach, innovative style and socio-critical undertones, it redefined horror and secured itself a permanent place in film history.