Christmas might as well have come early this year for the zombie fans among us because Sony Pictures Entertainment just showed us a new trailer for 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple.
The trailer picks up pretty much where one might assume the events of 28 Years Later‘s cliffhanger ending left off, with Ralph Fiennes’ Dr. Kelson meeting up with Jack O’Connell’s enigmatic tracksuit-wearing Sir Jimmy Crystal. Here, Dr. Kelson explains the lore behind his giant bone temple, prompting Crystal to politely ask the bloody doctor if he’s Satan. While Crystal drones on about how Satan unleashed his evils upon the world, the trailer cuts to Alfie Williams’ Spike and a bunch of other survivors fighting for their lives in a forest with a horde of zombies. And wouldn’t you know it, the boy can fend for himself. What a difference a sequel film makes. Not sure if his newly ordained name, Jimmy, by Crystal, is gonna stick, though.
The rest of the trailer sees Dr. Kelson reminisce about the way the world once was before all the buff, naked zombies roamed the land—giving way to The Bone Temple jumping back and forth from timelines where people first got infected, doing unnerving things like standing on a train, whilst Jimmy and his cult try to conscript Spike into their motley crew. Of course, there’s Chi Lewis Parry’s oh-so-perturbing Samson making his stark naked return as well, but it appears he’s more docile than he was the last time around. Ultimately, Dr. Kelson’s goal is to treat the infection somehow and rehabilitate the zombies. But Crystal’s crew, from all the shit-eating grins while walking into his Bone Temple, clearly have other plans. And thus, we have the makings of a dramatic premise for a sequel film.
Unfortunately, for all the mystery of this first look, we still don’t see the return of Jim, the first zombie survivor, played by Oscar-winner Cillian Murphy. Though rest assured, he is slated to make an appearance in the film at some point. Likely to make a daring save at the end, kicking off the events of its follow-up film. You know how Hollywood is.
Exclusion of a charming Irishman aside, fans can look forward to seeing 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple release on January 16, 2026.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
English (US) ·