What Happened to 28 Years Later (Film Franchise)?
The '28 Years Later' film franchise, a continuation of the acclaimed '28 Days Later' series, has recently seen a significant revival with a planned new trilogy. The first installment, '28 Years Later,' was released in June 2025, followed swiftly by its sequel, '28 Years Later: The Bone Temple,' in January 2026. While the first two films, helmed by original creators Danny Boyle and Alex Garland, achieved critical success, the third film's production status is currently uncertain due to the second film's box office performance, despite an optimistic update from star Cillian Murphy in March 2026.
Quick Answer
The '28 Years Later' film franchise, a direct continuation of the '28 Days Later' universe, has recently expanded with two new films. '28 Years Later,' directed by Danny Boyle, premiered in June 2025, and its sequel, '28 Years Later: The Bone Temple,' directed by Nia DaCosta, was released in January 2026. Both films were written by Alex Garland and saw Cillian Murphy return as an executive producer and in a significant role. While a third film in this new trilogy was greenlit in late 2025, its production is currently in limbo as of March 2026, following the underperformance of 'The Bone Temple' at the box office, though Murphy remains hopeful for its development.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline14 events
28 Days Later Released
Danny Boyle and Alex Garland's '28 Days Later' is released, critically acclaimed for revitalizing the zombie genre.
28 Weeks Later Released
The sequel, '28 Weeks Later,' directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, is released, further expanding the Rage Virus universe.
Sequel Rights Issues Reported
Alex Garland indicates that rights issues with parties no longer communicating are preventing a sequel, leading to a period of development hell.
28 Years Later Title Confirmed
Danny Boyle and Alex Garland express serious intent to develop a new film, confirming the title '28 Years Later' to reflect the long gap.
Sony Acquires Rights, New Trilogy Announced
Sony Pictures officially acquires the rights to the franchise and announces a new trilogy, with Danny Boyle directing the first film and Alex Garland writing all three. Cillian Murphy joins as executive producer.
Principal Photography Begins for First Two Films
Filming commences for '28 Years Later' and its direct sequel, '28 Years Later: The Bone Temple,' which are shot back-to-back.
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple Release Date Announced
Sony announces that '28 Years Later: The Bone Temple,' directed by Nia DaCosta, will be released on January 16, 2026, just months after the first film.
28 Years Later Released
The first film in the new trilogy, '28 Years Later,' directed by Danny Boyle, is released in US cinemas, receiving positive reviews and strong box office results.
The Bone Temple Teaser Trailer Released
The first teaser trailer for '28 Years Later: The Bone Temple' is released, building anticipation for the upcoming sequel.
Third Film Officially Greenlit
Following positive preview screenings of 'The Bone Temple,' Sony officially greenlights the third and final film in the new trilogy.
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple UK Release
'28 Years Later: The Bone Temple' is first released in the United Kingdom as part of a double bill with '28 Years Later.'
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple US Release
The second film in the new trilogy, '28 Years Later: The Bone Temple,' is released in US cinemas, featuring Cillian Murphy's Jim in a pivotal role.
Third Film's Status in Limbo Reported
Reports emerge that the third film's production is 'in limbo' due to 'The Bone Temple's' underperformance at the box office, despite earlier greenlighting.
Cillian Murphy Provides Optimistic Update on Third Film
Cillian Murphy offers an optimistic update on the third '28 Years Later' film, stating, 'Hope so! I'm ready anyway,' confirming it remains in the planning phase despite box office concerns.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
The '28 Days Later' film series, which redefined the zombie genre with its fast-moving infected and stark portrayal of a post-apocalyptic Britain, lay dormant for over a decade after 2007's '28 Weeks Later.' However, interest in a continuation persisted, with original director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland frequently discussing potential sequels. After years in development hell, often referred to as '28 Months Later,' the project officially gained traction and was retitled '28 Years Later,' acknowledging the significant time gap since the last installment.
In January 2024, Sony Pictures acquired the rights and officially announced a new trilogy, with Boyle returning to direct the first film and Garland writing all three screenplays. Cillian Murphy, the star of the original '28 Days Later,' joined as an executive producer, fueling anticipation for his potential return on screen. The first film, '28 Years Later,' starring Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes, was released in June 2025 to generally positive reviews and strong box office performance, grossing over $151 million worldwide against a $60 million budget.
Capitalizing on this momentum, the second film, '28 Years Later: The Bone Temple,' was shot back-to-back with its predecessor in summer 2024. Directed by Nia DaCosta, with Garland again penning the script, it was released in January 2026. This rapid release schedule, approximately seven months after the first film, was a deliberate strategy by Sony. 'The Bone Temple' continued the narrative, featuring Ralph Fiennes and Jack O'Connell in prominent roles, and notably included a 'captivating' appearance by Cillian Murphy's character, Jim, setting up the third installment.
Despite receiving even greater critical acclaim and strong audience scores than its predecessor, '28 Years Later: The Bone Temple' faced box office challenges, reportedly earning just over $57 million worldwide against a $63 million budget. This underperformance has cast a shadow over the immediate future of the planned third film. Although Sony officially greenlit the final installment in December 2025, prior to 'The Bone Temple's' theatrical release, its current status as of March 2026 is described as 'in limbo.' Danny Boyle has indicated he would like to direct the third film, and Alex Garland is actively writing the script, with Cillian Murphy in talks to reprise his role. However, Sony is reportedly 'in no rush' to proceed, and Boyle is engaged with other projects.
In a hopeful development, Cillian Murphy provided an optimistic update in March 2026, stating, "Hope so! I'm ready anyway," when asked about the third film's likelihood, confirming it remains in the planning phase. While Netflix has reportedly shown interest in acquiring the final chapter, Danny Boyle is keen on a theatrical release. The franchise's future hinges on securing funding and aligning the schedules of its key creative talents, but the commitment from Boyle, Garland, and Murphy suggests a strong desire to complete the trilogy.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if 28 Years Later (Film Franchise) made different choices?