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28 Years Later: The Bone Temple Trailer Brings a Surprising Character Back
The return of the 28 Days Later franchise was a massive cinematic event. Director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland’s highly anticipated sequel reignited the dormant series, earning significant critical acclaim and a successful run at the global box office that grossed over $150 million worldwide. To make things even better, this revival was the launch of an ambitious new trilogy, with the second movie, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, shot back-to-back with the first film, ensuring a swift continuation of the story. Sony Pictures Entertainment has dropped the first trailer for 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, and it contains a major revelation about a key character’s return.
The first trailer for 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple confirms Ralph Fiennes is back as Dr. Ian Kelson, the enigmatic survivor dedicated to maintaining the bone temple that gives the movie its name. The new footage unveils a surprising development in his story, showing him forging an unexpected connection with Samson, the powerful Alpha infected who fathered a healthy child in the first installment. According to the film’s official synopsis, this new relationship will fundamentally change the understanding of the infected and could have massive repercussions for every survivor in Britain.
Beyond Kelson’s story, the trailer also sheds light on the harrowing fate of Spike (Alfie Williams). Following his tense encounter with the charismatic cult leader Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell) and his followers, Spike’s journey is described by the synopsis as a nightmare he can’t escape. The sequel will delve deeper into Jimmy’s disturbing community and their methods of survival in the ruins of England. The trailer also underlines that these two narrative threads are on a collision course, as we can see glimpses of the bone temple engulfed in flames and Jimmy’s crew coming face-to-face with Dr. Kelson.
There’s a Lot to Be Excited About 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
The creative direction of the new trilogy is expanding in its second chapter. While Boyle helmed 28 Years Later, directing duties for The Bone Temple have been passed to Nia DaCosta, known for her work on the Candyman remake. Garland, the architect of the franchise, remains the narrative guide, having penned the script for this installment and the entire planned trilogy. This creative handover is part of a larger strategy to make each film in the trilogy distinct, giving each chapter a director-driven vision while maintaining a cohesive overarching story.
The first film, 28 Years Later, was praised by critics for being a powerful and intelligent expansion of the post-apocalyptic world. It was celebrated for its focus on compelling new characters and its ability to explore fresh thematic territory without relying on simple nostalgia. The movie also successfully balanced intense horror with deep, emotional storytelling about family and survival in a collapsed society.
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is scheduled to be released in theaters on January 16, 2026.
What are you most excited to see in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple? Let us know in the comments!
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