Ralph Fiennes has unveiled striking details about the second installment of the highly anticipated trilogy, sharing that 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple will feature a dramatic birth scene with deep human significance. As the series continues the narrative in theaters worldwide, fans are learning about the themes and vision behind this next chapter.
Building on a legacy that reimagined the zombie genre
When 28 Days Later arrived in 2002, director Danny Boyle, along with actors such as Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris, Brendan Gleeson, and Christopher Eccleston, injected new life into the horror genre. The film’s innovative approach — including digital filming with a Canon XL1 DV camera and a modest $8 million budget — not only revitalized zombie stories but influenced works like The Walking Dead and The Last of Us. These connections continue, as creators from both properties have shaped and been shaped by each other’s work over time.
A new direction with a talented cast and creative team
After nearly twenty years of waiting, the release of 28 Years Later marked the beginning of a bold new trilogy. Ralph Fiennes, who has been actively promoting the movie, recently shared details with Entertainment Weekly about the sequel, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, set for 2026. The upcoming film maintains the tradition of combining the thrills of the zombie genre with complex explorations of human nature.
Screenwriter Alex Garland, known for writing the original series and directing Ex Machina, pens The Bone Temple. The cast features Alfie Williams, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and returning stars like Fiennes himself and Cillian Murphy, who reprises his role from the first film. Jack O’Connell, acclaimed for his villainous roles, joins the sequel’s ensemble. The directorial reins will be handed to Nia DaCosta, recognized for her work on Candyman and The Marvels, while Boyle is set to return for the trilogy’s third installment, which hinges on the commercial success of its predecessors.
Inside the train scene: birth as a beacon of hope and tension
Fiennes described a pivotal moment from The Bone Temple, focusing on a birth occurring on a train — a scenario charged with emotional complexity and conflict.
“I can say that the themes that we touched on in the scene on the train, the moment of labor, the humanity — it is a critical moment in the life of a mother and child,”
—Ralph Fiennes, Actor
“The ultimate human moment is an infected woman who is giving birth to a baby who is not infected. The theme of innate humanity — is it still alive in the soul, in the heart, in the mind of an infected person? Are they completely corrupted? Are they only rabid? Or is there the possibility of something? Something human, it’s still there.”
—Ralph Fiennes, Actor
These revelations highlight the core of the trilogy’s evolving themes, questioning what remains of one’s humanity in the face of infection and violence. Fiennes also commented on the underlying menace threaded through the films:
“We carry in us the potential for terrible destruction and pain. That theme is picked up very strongly in the next film.”
—Ralph Fiennes, Actor
The impact and future of the 28 Years Later series
With 28 Years Later currently showing globally and the sequel already generating attention, the creative risks taken by directors like Nia DaCosta and Danny Boyle build upon a foundation set by the original cast — including English and Irish actors like Jodie Comer as Isla and Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Jamie. The focus on inner humanity, as discussed by Fiennes, becomes more relevant than ever as brutal survival collides with empathy and hope.
The future trajectory of the franchise, particularly the third movie directed by Boyle, will rely on the audience’s reception at the box office. As The Bone Temple gears up for release and names like Alex Garland and Jack O’Connell add their talents, fans can expect a continued exploration of the thin line dividing monstrous behavior from acts of profound humanity.
The influence of earlier works persists, with series creators and collaborators — from actors to directors — weaving together stories focused on the challenges of survival, loss, and ethical dilemmas. As Ralph Fiennes discusses 28 Years Later sequel details, anticipation grows for how the franchise will further redefine the genre and the emotional scope of its narrative.
