28 Years Later: The Bone Temple – Release date, cast and plot for sequel

**WARNING: Contains spoilers for 28 Years Later**

Film fans are used to having to wait rather a long time for sequels – often several years – so there's something very welcome about the fact that 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple follows on so quickly from the previous entry in the revitalised post-apocalyptic franchise

That's especially the case given that the last film's much talked-about ending set the scene so tantalisingly for this next instalment, with a somewhat tonally jarring closing sequence introducing an intriguing new character called Jimmy, played by Jack O'Connell who appears to be modelled on Jimmy Savile.

The new film was shot back-to-back with last year's entry – albeit with Nia DaCosta taking over the directorial reigns from Danny Boyle – and early signs suggest that it has picked up superbly from where we left off last time around.

Indeed, critical reactions have been positive across the board, with the Rotten Tomatoes score sitting at 94% at time of writing and our own four-star review praising the performances of O'Connell and Ralph Fiennes and calling DaCosta's film a "supremely satisfying horror thrill ride with unexpected depth."

So when can you watch the film in UK cinemas? And which other cast members return from last time out? Read on for everything you need to know.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple release date

Great news – the wait is already over! The film was released in UK cinemas on Wednesday 14th January 2026, two days earlier than its originally announced date of Friday 16th January 2026.

That's little more than half a year after the last film opened in June 2025, which should be just enough time for most fans to have soaked in the closing scene of 28 Years Later... right?

Where things get a little more complicated is when it comes to the third film in the trilogy.

The Bone Temple is the middle chapter of a three-film arc, with Alex Garland having already penned the final movie and Danny Boyle hoping to return to direct – and Sony took its time before revealing that the third entry had been officially greenlit.

It was announced in December 2025 that the third film would go ahead and that the trilogy will get completed, but it obviously won't be possible for it to keep up the same pace in terms of release – given that it still needs to be shot. Still, hopefully there won't be too long a gap.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple cast

The second film in the new trilogy is once again headlined by child star Alfie Williams – who has won broad acclaim from both fans and critics for his turn as Spike in his debut film role.

He won't be the only returnee, with Ralph Fiennes also back as the enigmatic Doctor Ian Kelson and Aaron Taylor-Johnson reprising his role as Spike's father Jamie, who will presumably be venturing to the mainland to go looking for his son.

Of course, there are a couple of notable stars who wont be returning for the follow-up, owing to the fact that their characters met tragic demises in the first film.

Swedish star Edvin Ryding and, more notably, Jodie Comer will both be absent, unless they are drafted back in to appear in any flashback sequences.

Then there's Jack O'Connell. The star – who recently impressed in another hit horror film, Sinners – made a brief but very notable appearance in 28 Years Later, and has been confirmed to play a major role as cult leader Jimmy in the follow-up.

Likewise, Emma Laird and Maura Bird are set to appear as members of his cult.

But the most intriguing piece of casting news of all pertains to Oscar winner and Peaky Blinders star Cillian Murphy, who had the lead role as bike courier Jim in the first 28 Days Later film all the way back in 2002.

Murphy was initially reported to appear in the first of the new films, only for those rumours to be proven wide of the mark, but we now know for certain that he'll be popping up briefly at the end of The Bone Temple before appearing in a more major role in the final film.

We can't wait to see how he ties into the story!

Should we hear of any further additions to the cast, we'll post them right here.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple plot

We don't have a full plot synopsis for the sequel, but there are a few things that we do know – crucially including the fact that Jack O'Connell's Jimmy is set to play a major role after Spike is saved by his cult at the end of the previous movie.

We can also expect Spike's father Jamie to head to the mainland as he looks to be reunited with his runaway son.

Perhaps he will seek out the help of Dr Kelson and that the pair will team up to go looking for Spike?

Meanwhile, the question of how baby Isla – who Spike took to Holy Island before venturing back to the mainland – might tie into events is also one worth considering.

We've also been given a little tease as to the thematic direction of the second film courtesy of an interview Danny Boyle did with The Independent.

"[The ending] is about reintroducing evil into what has been a compassionate environment," the director explained regarding the conclusion of the previous instalment.

"I asked Alex [Garland] right at the beginning [of the writing process] to tell me the nature of each of the films. He said that the first film is about the nature of family. The second film is about the nature of evil."

That certainly sounds intriguing – especially with what we know about Jimmy so far – and it will be interesting to see exactly how the film goes about exploring evil.

Is there a 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple trailer?

Yes – you can find a trailer for the film below, which gives us a better look at the Jimmies and also features more of Fienne's Dr Kelson.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is now showing in UK cinemas.

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