A lot has changed in the horror world since the release of 28 Days Later, with the film’s effectiveness fundamentally altering the zombie subgenre. At the time, zombies had been relegated to only being used for comedic effect, their slow and lumbering physicality lacking the immediacy of other threats. Danny Boyle‘s movie, though, took a different approach to the concept, highlighting how you don’t always have to follow the same expected formula in horror (while also igniting countless debates about whether the movie is a “zombie” movie or an “infection” movie).
Another major impact it had was on star Cillian Murphy‘s career, as he has slowly but surely became one of the most celebrated actors of his generation. His collaborations with Christopher Nolan on Batman Begins and Inception paved the way to Oppenheimer, which earned him a Best Actor Oscar. Despite those accolades, he seemingly hasn’t forgotten his roots, as he’s set to return for the next 28 Years Later sequel after his brief appearance in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple.
Speaking at the Zurich Film Festival, per Variety, Boyle confirmed that Murphy’s role in the next chapter will be much more than just a cameo.
“28 Years 3, or whatever it ends up being called, will get made because people keep asking about it. Quite when I’m not sure, but there’s a script – a very good script by Alex Garland,” Boyle shared. The filmmaker then joked about Murphy having a full-frontal nude scene in the original, noting, “[It will have] a lot of Cillian Murphy in it. Whether he’ll take his kit off anymore, that I don’t know. He’s got the Oscar now.”
While it’s promising that the script has been completed and that Murphy’s Jim will have a significant role, Boyle’s remarks also highlight a possible setback for the franchise.
The release of 28 Years Later in 2025 was met with strong critical reactions and, while not a full-blown blockbuster, it performed well enough at the box office, taking in $151.3 million worldwide on a reported budget of $60 million. Less than a year later, The Bone Temple was released, as the two films were shot back to back, with Nia DaCosta helming Bone Temple.
Against all odds, Bone Temple scored even stronger critical reactions, with its 91% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes making it one of the best-reviewed horror movies of 2026. Sadly, this didn’t translate to box-office success, as it only took in $58.5 million globally. For most franchises, such a drastic decline would signal doom, though the accolades Boyle, Murphy, and Garland have earned throughout their careers seemingly offer them more leeway in moving forward with the conclusion of this trilogy.
28 Years Later 3 doesn’t currently have a release date or production start date.
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