The first trailer for 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple has arrived. It shows a violent new world where humans are the biggest threat. The movie is a direct sequel to the 2025 hit 28 Years Later. It continues the story of a world destroyed by a rage virus. This new chapter focuses on a dangerous cult and the survivors trying to live in chaos. The film is set to release in theaters on January 16, 2026.
The Story Continues in a Broken World
The new trailer introduces us to more of the post-apocalyptic England. It picks up where the previous film ended. Young Spike, played by Alfie Williams, is now with Jack O’Connell’s character, Jimmy Crystal, and his gang. They are called The Jimmies. The trailer suggests that Spike’s new situation is not safe. He seems trapped in a nightmare with this group.
Dr. Ian Kelson, played by Ralph Fiennes, is also back. He is the doctor who built a large monument out of human skulls in the last film. The trailer shows he has a complex relationship with Samson. Samson is a powerful infected Alpha, played by Chi Lewis-Parry. Dr. Kelson appears to be studying him. The official synopsis says the infected are not the greatest threat anymore. The real danger comes from other people.
“In the world of The Bone Temple, the infected are no longer the greatest threat to survival – the inhumanity of the survivors can be stranger and more terrifying” .
Meet The Jimmies and Their Leader
Jack O’Connell’s character, Jimmy Crystal, leads a cult-like group. They are called The Jimmies. In the trailer, they wear matching blonde wigs and velour tracksuits. They act in a very violent and chaotic way. O’Connell described his character as “extremely dark and twisted.” He said Jimmy enjoys the evil and darkness of the apocalypse.
“I’m in my Jimmy Cult era” .
The trailer shows The Jimmies causing chaos. They tie up prisoners and wear strange masks. Erin Kellyman plays a member of the group named Jimmy Ink. Director Nia DaCosta calls the group a “cult of personality” around Jimmy. She says you will learn more about why they all dress the same and are called The Jimmies.
The Director’s Vision for the Sequel
Nia DaCosta is the director of this new sequel. She took over from Danny Boyle. She is known for directing films like Candyman and The Marvels. DaCosta wanted to make the film her own. She did not want to copy Boyle’s style. She described the movie as having “bonkers, off-the-wall energy” .
DaCosta also asked writer Alex Garland to add more infected characters to the story. She wanted to have more of them for her to create horror scenes. She loves gore and body horror. But she focused on what she wants the audience to feel. The trailer shows plenty of action and scary moments.
“It’s so hard to describe the tone of the movie that I actually won’t even attempt to. But it keeps the same unique, off-the-wall, surprising energy” .
The Return of Familiar Faces
The film brings back several actors from the previous movie. Alfie Williams returns as Spike. He is the young boy who left his safe village at the end of the last film. He is the main character who connects both stories. Ralph Fiennes is back as Dr. Kelson. His character has a shocking new relationship that could change the world.
There is also a confirmed cameo from Cillian Murphy. He will reprise his role as Jim from the original 28 Days Later. His role in this film is small. But director Danny Boyle said Jim will be an “enormous character” in the third planned movie .
What the Trailer Reveals
The trailer uses a quote from author Arthur C. Clarke about predicting the future. It shows scenes of a normal train full of people. Then it cuts to the same train, empty and broken after the virus. This shows how much the world has changed.
We see Dr. Kelson living in his place with a hand-cranked generator. He seems to see a bit of humanity in the Alpha infected, Samson. The second part of the trailer focuses on Jimmy and his cult. The two groups seem to be on a collision course. The Jimmies invade Dr. Kelson’s bone temple.
One of the final shots shows Jimmy asking Spike, “are you ready?” Spike looks very terrified. This suggests he is forced to be part of the group’s violent actions.
Audience and Critical Expectations
The first film, 28 Years Later, was a surprise hit in 2025. It was praised for being more emotional but still scary. Fans have been waiting to see what happens next. The trailer has generated a lot of discussion online. Some fans are excited about the fast release of the sequel. The movie is coming out just six months after the first one.
However, some fans are cautious. One fan online said, “That was fast didn’t like last one long slow and boring this looks samething I’ll give it chance see it at home” . Another said, “This trailer looks good but so did the ones of the latest movie, that didn’t meet my expectations” .
The Future of the Franchise
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is the second film in a planned trilogy. Danny Boyle is expected to return to direct the third and final movie. Alex Garland is writing the scripts for all the films. The third movie will apparently feature Cillian Murphy’s character Jim in a much larger role.
The release date for the new film is January 16, 2026. It is a clever date. It is exactly 28 weeks after the release of 28 Years Later in June 2025. This continues the number theme from the franchise.
The movie also stars Emma Laird, Maura Bird, and Erin Kellyman. It is produced by Boyle, Garland, Andrew Macdonald, Peter Rice, and Bernard Bellew.
Also Read: 11 Most Confusing One Piece Mysteries Fans Still Can’t Figure Out After 28 Years
Credits: Rolling Stone, Variety, Empire Online
