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- Warning: Major spoilers ahead for "28 Years Later.""28 Years Later" leaves the story open for its sequel, "The Bone Temple," which is due out in 2026.The ending sees Spike (Alfie Williams) meet a strange new group of survivors.
Horror fans rejoice, the sequel to the long-awaited "28 Years Later," "The Bone Temple," has already been filmed and is due out in theaters next year.
2002's "28 Days Later" became a cult classic by taking a fresh bite out of the zombie movie genre: instead of a supernatural threat, the undead are infected by the Rage Virus.
"28 Years Later," out Friday, is the start of a new trilogy from the director and screenwriter of the original film, Danny Boyle and Alex Garland. It tells the story of 12-year-old Spike (Alfie Williams) who leaves the safety of the island where his family live to find a cure for his sick mother, Isla (Jodie Comer), on the UK mainland.
By the end of the film, Isla lets the mysterious Doctor Kelson (Ralph Fiennes) euthanize her after he diagnoses her with metastatic brain cancer.
Spike then roams the mainland instead of returning home, and in its final scene crosses paths with a man who calls himself Sir Jimmy Crystal (Jack O'Connell). The strange cult leader who has long blond hair are, as Boyle and Garland confirmed to Business Insider, dressed like Jimmy Savile, the infamous British TV presenter and prolific sexual abuser.
The film ends as Spike chooses to go with Jimmy. Here's what to know about "The Bone Temple."
The cast of '28 Years Later: The Bone Temple' includes Cillian Murphy, Alfie Williams, Jack O'Connell, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson
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The plot for "The Bone Temple" is unknown, but presumably it will explore Jimmy's past after he escaped the Rage Virus following the initial outbreak, as seen in the violent opening scene of "28 Years Later."
His Savile-esque appearance raises an intriguing question: The Rage Virus outbreak started in 2002, meaning Savile's numerous sexual crimes may not have been made public in the film's timeline. In real life, the allegations were made in 2011 onwards, after Savile died.
Garland told BI that the story will examine how misremembering key events can drastically change the world."We are living in a time right now which is absolutely dominated by a misremembered past," he said.
Williams and O'Connell will return for "The Bone Temple" alongside Aaron Taylor-Johnson, who plays Spike's father, Jamie.
Boyle also confirmed to BI that Cillian Murphy will return as Jim, the main character from "28 Days Later."
'28 Years Later: The Bone Temple' is due in 2026
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"28 Years Later: The Bone Temple" will be released on January 16, 2026, so there isn't long to wait after that surprising ending.
This is because "28 Years Later" and "The Bone Temple" were filmed back-to-back in summer 2024.
Boyle didn't direct the second film, but he did return as a producer. Nia Da Costa directed the sequel with a script from Garland.
Da Costa has previously helmed movies like "Candyman" and "The Marvels," as well as episodes of "Top Boy" and "Ms. Marvel."
