What Happened to 28 Days Later (Film Franchise)?
The "28 Days Later" franchise began with the critically acclaimed 2002 British post-apocalyptic horror film, which redefined the zombie genre with its fast-moving infected. It expanded with a 2007 sequel, "28 Weeks Later," and was recently revived with a new trilogy, "28 Years Later" (2025) and "28 Years Later: The Bone Temple" (2026), with a fifth film in development as of 2026. The series explores the societal collapse and human struggle following the outbreak of the Rage Virus.
Quick Answer
The "28 Days Later" franchise has seen a significant revival, with two new films, "28 Years Later" (2025) and "28 Years Later: The Bone Temple" (2026), already released as part of a planned trilogy. Original star Cillian Murphy made a return in "The Bone Temple," and is in talks to reprise his role more significantly in the upcoming fifth film, which will conclude the new trilogy. Despite "The Bone Temple" underperforming at the box office, the third film in the new trilogy is greenlit, with director Danny Boyle aiming to begin filming in 2027. [9, 22, 27, 31]
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline14 events
28 Days Later Released
The original British post-apocalyptic horror film, directed by Danny Boyle and written by Alex Garland, is released in the UK, starring Cillian Murphy. It earns critical acclaim and $82.8 million worldwide on an $8 million budget. [6, 10]
28 Weeks Later Released
The sequel, directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo with Boyle and Garland as executive producers, is released. It expands the story of the Rage Virus and grosses $72.3 million worldwide. [1, 2]
Discussions for a Third Film Begin
Following the success of '28 Weeks Later' DVD sales, Fox Atomic considers producing a third film, with Danny Boyle having ideas for a '28 Months Later' set in Russia. [2]
Boyle Confirms '28 Months Later' Pre-production Meetings
Danny Boyle confirms he met with Alex Garland to begin pre-production on '28 Months Later,' reigniting hopes for a new sequel. [2]
New Trilogy '28 Years Later' Officially Announced
A third film, titled '28 Years Later,' is officially announced as the first of a new trilogy of sequels. Danny Boyle is set to direct the first installment, with Alex Garland writing the scripts for all three. [2, 9]
Nia DaCosta in Talks to Direct Second Film
Nia DaCosta is reportedly in negotiations to direct the sequel to '28 Years Later,' which would be the second part of the planned trilogy. [3, 8]
Filming Wraps for '28 Years Later' and Begins for 'The Bone Temple'
Principal photography for '28 Years Later' concludes, and production for its direct sequel, '28 Years Later: The Bone Temple,' begins, with the two films shot back-to-back. [8, 24]
Cillian Murphy Confirmed for 'The Bone Temple'
Director Danny Boyle confirms that Cillian Murphy will appear at the end of '28 Years Later: The Bone Temple,' marking his return to the franchise. [21, 25]
28 Years Later Released
The first film in the new trilogy, directed by Danny Boyle, is released. It earns $151.3 million worldwide. [4, 7, 9]
Third Film in Trilogy Greenlit
Sony Pictures officially greenlights the third film in the '28 Years Later' trilogy, with Alex Garland returning to write and Cillian Murphy in talks to return. [9, 28]
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple Released
The fourth installment in the franchise and the second film in the new trilogy, directed by Nia DaCosta, is released in the United States. It features a cameo by Cillian Murphy. [3, 8, 9, 14]
'The Bone Temple' Box Office Update
As of this date, '28 Years Later: The Bone Temple' has a worldwide haul of $57.6 million against a budget of around $63 million, trailing its predecessors. [7, 31]
Cillian Murphy Expresses Continued Interest in Franchise
Despite 'The Bone Temple's' box office performance, Cillian Murphy states he remains keen to make another movie in the '28 Days Later' franchise. [22]
Danny Boyle Hopes to Film Next Sequel in 2027
Danny Boyle reveals in an interview that he hopes to begin filming the third film in the '28 Years Later' trilogy in 2027. [9, 30]
Follow this story
Get an email when this timeline gets a major update.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
The "28 Days Later" franchise originated with Danny Boyle's groundbreaking 2002 film, which introduced a terrifyingly fast-moving 'infected' rather than traditional zombies, revitalizing the horror genre. The film, starring Cillian Murphy, was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $82.8 million worldwide on an $8 million budget. [6, 10] Its success led to a 2007 sequel, "28 Weeks Later," directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, which also performed well at the box office with $72.3 million worldwide on a $15 million budget and received generally positive reviews. [1, 2]
For years, discussions about a third film, often referred to as "28 Months Later," circulated, with original creators Danny Boyle and Alex Garland expressing intermittent interest. [2] The franchise remained dormant for over a decade until January 2024, when it was officially announced that a new trilogy, starting with "28 Years Later," was in development. Danny Boyle returned to direct the first installment, with Alex Garland writing the scripts for all three planned films. [2, 9]
"28 Years Later" was released on June 20, 2025, marking the official revival of the series. [4, 9] This was quickly followed by the second film in the new trilogy, "28 Years Later: The Bone Temple," which premiered in the UK on January 13, 2026, and in the US on January 16, 2026. [3, 8, 9] Nia DaCosta directed "The Bone Temple," with Boyle and Garland serving as producers. [3, 8] A significant development was the return of Cillian Murphy, who reprised his role as Jim from the original film in a cameo at the end of "The Bone Temple," filmed in the exact same house as the original's ending. [21, 26]
As of August 2026, the franchise's future is still active. Despite "28 Years Later: The Bone Temple" earning approximately $58.5 million worldwide against a $63 million budget, making it a box office disappointment, the third and final film in the "28 Years Later" trilogy has been greenlit. [3, 7, 22, 31] Danny Boyle has expressed his hope to begin filming the untitled fifth installment in 2027, with Alex Garland returning to write and Cillian Murphy in talks for a more substantial role. [9, 27, 28] Sony Pictures is currently handling distribution, though there are reports of Netflix's interest in acquiring the third film, while Boyle prefers a theatrical release. [31] Cillian Murphy has publicly stated his keenness to return to the franchise, emphasizing his protective feelings for its legacy. [22] The series continues to explore themes of societal breakdown, human nature under duress, and the evolving threat of the Rage Virus.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if 28 Days Later (Film Franchise) made different choices?