The second film in the “28 Years Later” trilogy, “The Bone Temple,” has landed a Jan. 16, 2026 domestic release date from Columbia Pictures.
The project’s MLK weekend release comes just six months after the first trilogy entry “28 Years Later,” which is slated for June 20. Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer and Ralph Fiennes star in that film, which shot back-to-back with “The Bone Temple.”
“It’s been almost three decades since the rage virus escaped a biological weapons laboratory, and now, still in a ruthlessly enforced quarantine, some have found ways to exist amidst the infected,” the “28 Years Later” official synopsis reads. “One such group of survivors lives on a small island connected to the mainland by a single, heavily-defended causeway. When one of the group leaves the island on a mission into the dark heart of the mainland, he discovers secrets, wonders and horrors that have mutated not only the infected but other survivors as well.” Plot details for the imminent sequel remain under wraps.
“The Bone Temple” will be directed by Nia DaCosta from a screenplay by Alex Garland. Producers are Danny Boyle, Alex Garland, Andrew Macdonald, Peter Rice and Bernard Bellew. Cillian Murphy is executive producing.
Popular on Variety DaCosta previously directed and co-wrote “The Marvels” starring Brie Larson, Teyonah Parris and Iman Vellani, and “Candyman,” a contemporary spiritual sequel of the 1992 cult horror classic for Universal and Monkeypaw Productions. She’ll next write, direct and produce the Amazon MGM Studios’ Orion Pictures and Plan B film “Hedda,” a reimagination of the famed Henrik Ibsen stage play “Hedda Gabler,” starring Tessa Thompson in the title role.
“28 Days Later” was released in 2002 and starred Murphy, then largely unknown. Boyle directed the feature, while Garland wrote. A sequel, “28 Weeks Later,” was released in 2007.