The Bone Temple explores psychological themes against the backdrop of a collapsing world.
The second chapter of the new 28 Years Later trilogy is coming just six months after the first film.
The Plot
At the center of the story is the actual Bone Temple, a shrine built from skulls and bones to honor the dead. Created by Dr. Ian Kelson, played by Ralph Fiennes, the temple is meant to be a place of remembrance. But as the cult grows, so does the obsession with death. When Spike’s mother dies of cancer, her body becomes part of the temple, and Spike is pulled deeper into the belief system surrounding it.
A Strong Cast
The film features Alfie Williams once again as Spike, whose personal journey remains central to the story. Jack O’Connell plays Jimmy Crystal, a cult leader whose influence over others becomes a key part of the plot. Ralph Fiennes appears as Dr. Kelson, a scientist who copes with the new world through ritual and remembrance. Aaron Taylor Johnson returns as Jamie, Spike’s father, who may play a larger role later in the story and Cillian Murphy makes a brief return as Jim, connecting the sequel to the original film and paving the way for the trilogy’s final chapter.
The Themes Of The Story
While the infected still exist, they are no longer the biggest threat. The horror now comes from what people become when systems collapse. The Bone Temple explores the psychology of loss, the desperation for meaning, and how easily that turns into worship, control, and destruction.
Direction And Writing
Directed by Nia DaCosta, and written by Alex Garland, who created the original concept for the trilogy, The Bone Temple continues the story with a new creative perspective. While Alex Garland is set to direct the third film, Nia DaCosta leads this movie.
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple will be released in theaters on January 16, 2026.
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