As we close the book on fall 2025 movies, sending us into the new year, the hype engine for 2026’s upcoming releases is springing to life. Early reactions to 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple are a firm reminder of that fact; and even Sony has taken those raves to heart.

Thanks to the studio granting the final chapter of Alex Garland’s planned trilogy a greenlight, we don’t have to worry about the story going unfinished. At the same time, there’s one tidbit I’m surprised to read; just as I’d formed my own 28 Years Later finale theory on where things are going.

28 Years Later’s Third Installment Is In Play, With Cillian Murphy In Talks To Return

Recently reported by Deadline, 28 Years Later III (or whatever it’ll eventually be titled) is now on the board. What’s more, potentially returning director Danny Boyle’s remarks that Cillian Murphy’s Jim will be playing a big part in the finale are even more relevant now.

The context for the Oppenheimer Oscar winner’s return as his legacy 28 Days Later hero is still under wraps. What’s not a secret is the fact that 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, set for release on January 16, 2026, will provide the catalyst for this event – as Jim will be very much present in the ending.

Indeed there’s always been a plan for the 28 Years Later trio of pictures. Keeping that in mind, I have a question that I admit I thought I had the answer to, but now find myself freshly pondering all over again.

Cillian Murphy looks up hopefully in 28 Days Later.

Wasn’t Alex Garland’s Full 28 Years Later Trilogy Already Written?

Surprisingly, the report containing this information claims writer Alex Garland is “currently writing part 3” of the 28 Years Later opus. Considering the structure for this post-apocalyptic tale has been in the works for some time, that piece of info made me do a double-take. The quick turnaround for director Nia DaCosta’s The Bone Temple also calls this into question, as the series’s second return lands only 7 months after its predecessor’s debut.

There is a possibility that I should have previously taken into consideration, as my 28 Years Later interviews with Danny Boyle and Alex Garland (via CinemaBlend) could answer my first question. The following quote in particular is important to keep in mind, in light of this news: 

You may have a great ending written, and you may well do that ending … You’re just looking all the time in the shooting, and especially the editing, and in the process of sharing it with people, both test audiences and your peers. You’re looking for the ending. ‘Where is the ending? How are we gonna arrive at this ending?’

Perhaps the news above is pertaining to ongoing rewrites to accommodate reactions to both preceding 28 Years Later chapters. That would make even more sense in light of this week’s “leaked screenings” for The Bone Temple inspiring fans to wonder how it’s all going to end.

Of course, there’s now one more matter people are going to want an answer for: when is 28 Years Later: The Promised Land (a title of my pure imagination) planned for release? I can’t wait to ask those same questions and more, along with the rest of you, after the film debuts in theaters. Which, as you eager fans would know from the most recent trailer (shown below), is not too far off!

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple will pit faith against change on January 16th (or January 14th, in the UK). And if you want to brush up on the required reading for this occasion, 28 Days Later and 28 Years Later are both currently streaming on Netflix. As always, keep a browser tab open to THS’ 28 Years Later archive. The news surrounding this ongoing horror epic could arrive quicker than a heartbeat, and you wouldn’t want to miss anything.

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