Sony Pictures is officially keeping the infection alive. Following the electrifying fan response to 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, the studio is fast-tracking a third installment in the hit dystopian horror saga—with Cillian Murphy reportedly in negotiations to return.
Sources confirm that Alex Garland, the mind behind Ex Machina and the original 28 Days Later, is writing the script for the yet-untitled third film, with hopes to reunite Murphy and Danny Boyle—the duo that launched the franchise over two decades ago.
The next chapter will close out Sony’s newly revived 28 Years Later trilogy, which kicked off earlier this year with Boyle’s comeback film, followed by Nia DaCosta’s The Bone Temple, set to hit theaters January 16, 2026, over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend.
Sony’s bold decision to film the first two installments back-to-back is paying off. 28 Years Later scored an impressive $30 million debut, eventually grossing $70.4 million domestically and $151.3 million worldwide—a strong showing in a year crowded with horror releases.
Together, the 28 franchise has now earned nearly $300 million globally, transforming what began as an indie cult hit into one of modern horror’s most bankable series.
Insiders say the studio’s latest move to greenlight the third entry shows confidence in both the creative team and the genre’s enduring appeal. “The audience reaction to The Bone Temple has been off the charts,” one source tells Deadline. “The appetite for another one is undeniable.”
Murphy, fresh off his Best Actor Oscar win for Oppenheimer, is expected to reprise his role in some capacity—though details are under wraps. The actor also serves as an executive producer on both new installments, solidifying his creative stake in the franchise.
Meanwhile, Garland’s involvement signals a return to the franchise’s cerebral roots. Known for weaving philosophy and terror in equal measure, his script reportedly aims to “bring the trilogy full circle,” exploring humanity’s fractured survival in the aftermath of The Bone Temple.
Boyle, who directed the 2002 original, has hinted that he’s eager to return for the trilogy’s finale. “If Danny comes back,” one insider says, “it’ll be the perfect full-circle moment.”
At a recent fan screening of The Bone Temple at AMC Century City, audiences reportedly erupted with excitement. Critics like Simon Thompson of Gold Derby and IndieWire praised DaCosta’s entry, calling it “a brutal and nightmarish study of unchecked power.”
The film also stars Jack O’Connell and Ralph Fiennes, with Fiennes being singled out for his “demonic” performance.
Sony has yet to comment on the third film, but insiders say the studio wants production to move “as fast as the infected.”
