28 Years Later: The Bone Temple – Release, Cast & Netflix

The 28 Days Later franchise keeps finding new ways to haunt us. After Danny Boyle handed the directing reins to Nia DaCosta for the 2025 reboot, the fourth installment—28 Years Later: The Bone Temple—is already generating serious buzz with its March 2027 theatrical run. With Cillian Murphy reportedly returning as Jim and Netflix locked in for the SVOD window, here’s everything you need to know before it drops.

Director: Nia DaCosta ·
Writer: Alex Garland ·
Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Jack O’Connell, Alfie Williams, Erin Kellyman ·
Runtime: 109 min ·
Release Year: 2026

The table below lays out the key production and release details for the sequel.

What is The Bone Temple from 28 Years Later?

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is the direct sequel to 28 Years Later (2025) and the fourth installment in the landmark 28 Days Later horror franchise. The film was shot back-to-back with its predecessor under the direction of Nia DaCosta, who replaced Danny Boyle after the 2025 reboot. This back-to-back production approach mirrors the original franchise’s rapid-fire sequels and suggests the studio is committed to keeping the momentum going.

The franchise’s first new chapter earned $151 million worldwide against a $60 million budget, proving there’s appetite for continuing the story 28 years after Jim first escaped the infected London streets. With The Bone Temple landing in theaters January 2026—roughly seven months after the predecessor’s June 2025 release—the new trilogy is moving at an aggressive pace.

Plot summary

While detailed plot specifics remain scarce, The Bone Temple appears to continue the story established in 28 Years Later. The franchise has always used each sequel to explore how society rebuilds—or fails to rebuild—after the Rage virus devastates civilization.

Connection to franchise

The film is officially the second installment in what Sony Pictures is positioning as a new trilogy. It maintains continuity with the established mythology while introducing DaCosta’s distinct directorial vision, which reviewers noted for intensifying both the gore and psychological dread in the predecessor.

Is 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple coming out on Netflix?

Yes—Netflix US has locked in March 31, 2026 as the streaming premiere date for 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. The film will hit US theaters on January 16, 2026, then move to VOD on February 17, 2026, before arriving on Netflix exactly 74 days after its theatrical debut.

This aggressive 74-day window mirrors the strategy used for the predecessor, 28 Years Later, which also arrived on Netflix approximately two-and-a-half months after its theatrical run. “The Rage is heading to your living room sooner than expected,” noted What’s on Netflix when reporting the SVOD date.

Streaming release details

Netflix US confirmed the March 31, 2026 premiere in an official announcement, stating: “We can officially reveal that 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple has locked in its SVOD debut on Netflix US.” The platform is handling the exclusive US streaming rights as part of its deal with Sony Pictures.

Where to watch

For US audiences, the viewing path is straightforward: catch it in theaters through mid-January, rent or purchase via VOD platforms from February 17, or wait for the Netflix premiere on March 31. UK audiences got an early start with a double-bill release on January 13, 2026.

Will Cillian Murphy be in 28 Years Later in The Bone Temple?

Cillian Murphy returns as Jim in The Bone Temple, but in what Digital Spy describes as a “non-major role.” The actor, who originated the character in the 2002 original, took on an executive producer role for the 2025 reboot while passing the directing baton to Nia DaCosta. His return for the sequel keeps the Jim thread alive while allowing new characters to take center stage.

The franchise has always centered on Jim as its throughline character, so his involvement—even in a limited capacity—provides narrative continuity for longtime fans. Reports suggest his scenes were filmed during the same back-to-back production period as 28 Years Later, which wrapped principal photography in June 2025.

Cillian Murphy’s role status

Multiple sources confirm Murphy returns as Jim, though expectations should be tempered regarding screen time. The character appeared in the predecessor as well, establishing his ongoing presence in this new chapter of the story.

Reasons for absence

Murphy’s limited involvement likely stems from scheduling commitments and his transition from leading actor to executive producer on the franchise. DaCosta and screenwriter Alex Garland appear to be building out the cast with new blood—including Ralph Fiennes, Jack O’Connell, Alfie Williams, and Erin Kellyman—while keeping Jim’s legacy intact.

Is 28 years later Bone Temple worth watching?

The predecessor, 28 Years Later, drew mixed-to-positive responses, with Rotten Tomatoes critics noting the film “ups the gore while deepening the dread” under DaCosta’s direction. Given the director’s proven ability to balance visceral horror with emotional weight, The Bone Temple has solid foundations.

The $151 million worldwide gross on a $60 million budget demonstrates audience appetite, though reviews were somewhat divided on whether the 2025 reboot lived up to the original’s legacy. For fans of the franchise’s atmospheric dread and post-apocalyptic themes, The Bone Temple appears to double down on what worked.

The franchise’s willingness to hand creative control to DaCosta signals ambition beyond simple nostalgia play. With Alex Garland returning as writer and the series’ fifth untitled film reportedly in development, the franchise has momentum—assuming The Bone Temple delivers.

Is 28 years the bone temple out yet?

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple released in UK theaters on January 14, 2026, with a January 13 preview double-bill alongside the predecessor. US audiences got their theatrical release on January 16, 2026. The VOD release arrived February 17, 2026, with Netflix US streaming beginning March 31, 2026.

As of now, the film is available via theatrical exhibition and digital rental/purchase through VOD platforms. Netflix US subscribers can stream it starting March 31, 2026.

Release date

January 16, 2026 marks the confirmed US theatrical premiere, with UK release arriving two days earlier on January 14. The regional variation—UK getting a head start—mirrors patterns seen in previous franchise releases.

Trailer and previews

Official trailers and promotional material have been released as part of the marketing campaign leading to the January 2026 launch. The predecessor’s preview screening occurred June 19, 2025 at Tyneside Cinema, suggesting Sony is employing similar preview strategies for the sequel.

Confirmed vs. Rumored

Based on available sources, here’s what we know for certain versus what’s still uncertain.

The pattern shows a franchise leaning on established talent while introducing new blood, with streaming windows becoming a standard part of the release strategy.

“The Rage is heading to your living room sooner than expected.”

— What’s on Netflix entertainment report

“We can officially reveal that 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple has locked in its SVOD debut on Netflix US.”

— What’s on Netflix streaming announcement

“28 Years Later… ups the gore while deepening the dread.”

— Rotten Tomatoes critics consensus

Summary

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple represents the franchise’s ambitious second chapter in Sony’s planned new trilogy. Nia DaCosta’s direction, Cillian Murphy’s return as Jim, and an aggressive 74-day theatrical-to-SVOD window combine to suggest the studio is treating this release seriously. The January 2026 theatrical run gave audiences first access, with Netflix US arriving March 31, 2026 to extend the film’s reach. For horror fans, The Bone Temple delivers DaCosta’s signature atmospheric dread. For franchise loyalists, Jim’s continued presence provides continuity even as new blood takes the spotlight. The fifth film reportedly in development suggests Sony is committed to this trilogy—but whether that commitment pays off depends on whether The Bone Temple justifies the build-up.

Related reading: Best Horror Movies 2025 · Five Nights at Freddy’s – Complete Franchise Guide

Cillian Murphy reprises his role as Jim in Nia DaCosta’s The Bone Temple, where Murphys Jim return underscores his dual acting and producing impact.

Frequently asked questions