At a Glance
- 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple opened in theaters on January 16, 2026
- Cillian Murphy reprises his role as Jim for the first time since the 2002 original
- The film picks up immediately after 2025’s 28 Years Later
- Why it matters: Fans can finally see how the decades-long Rage Virus saga continues on the big screen
The zombie apocalypse that began in 2002’s 28 Days Later keeps spreading. The franchise’s newest chapter, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, arrived in theaters on January 16, 2026, bringing back original star Cillian Murphy and pushing the timeline nearly three decades past the initial outbreak.
The Franchise Timeline
The series started with 28 Days Later (2002), where Murphy’s character Jim woke from a coma to find London deserted after a chimpanzee-transmitted “Rage Virus” swept through Great Britain. The infection turned victims into hyper-violent predators within seconds.
28 Weeks Later (2007) jumped ahead six months, showing NATO’s U.S. forces attempting to reclaim and quarantine the country. Robert Carlyle played Don, a father who abandoned his wife during an attack and later reunited with his children in a fortified safe zone on the Isle of Dogs.
Director Danny Boyle and screenwriter Alex Garland revived the property in 2025 with 28 Years Later. That installment starred Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Jamie, Jodie Comer as his wife Isla, and Ralph Fiennes as Dr. Kelson, a researcher who may hold the key to curing Isla’s mysterious illness.
What Happens in The Bone Temple
The 2026 sequel opens the moment 28 Years Later ends. Nia DaCosta directs the second entry in a planned new trilogy, with Boyle confirming to IGN that the crew shot the first two installments back-to-back for logistical, scheduling, and storytelling reasons.
Cillian Murphy’s Jim returns after a 24-year absence from the series. Alfie Williams also reprises his role as Spike, the son of Jamie and Isla. Boyle promised, “[Spike] will run right through the films.”
Jack O’Connell returns as well, portraying cult leader Sir Jimmy Crystal, who rescues Spike from infected hordes at the end of the previous movie. An official synopsis teases that “Dr. Kelson finds himself in a shocking new relationship – with consequences that could change the world as they know it – and Spike’s encounter with Jimmy Crystal becomes a nightmare he can’t escape.”
Where to Watch the Earlier Films
Netflix currently streams both 28 Days Later and 28 Years Later. Viewers can find 28 Weeks Later on Hulu and Disney+.
No announcement has been made about when The Bone Temple might hit streaming platforms. Another sequel is reportedly in development, though neither a title nor release window has been revealed, according to trade publication Variety.
Key Takeaways
- The Rage Virus timeline now stretches across 24 years of in-universe time
- Cillian Murphy’s return bridges the original film with the current trilogy
- Each installment explores not just zombie horror but humanity’s cruelty toward itself
- Streaming availability is split across Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+ until The Bone Temple’s digital release
