Director Danny Boyle and screenwriter Alex Garland have offered huge insight into the future of 28 Years Later. The duo, who collaborated on the original 2002 horror movie 28 Days Later, have returned for the third installment, which takes place in an England that has been completely ravaged by the rage virus. When the project was announced, it was revealed that it was intended to kickstart a trilogy that includes the upcoming 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, directed by Candyman‘s Nia DaCosta and set to premiere on January 16, 2026, as well as an unтιтled and undated third installment.
ScreenRant‘s Liam Crowley sat down for an interview with both Boyle and Garland to discuss 28 Years Later. During their conversation, the topic of the third movie came up. When asked what the plan was for the impending installment, Garland confirmed that the current idea is that he would write the screenplay and that “Danny would direct.” When asked if the third movie would be the finale to the franchise, Garland joked that it would be, “until the prequels.” Read their full quotes below:
Alex Garland: The idea would be, I’d write, Danny would direct. That’s the idea… [Yes, that would cap off the franchise.] Until the prequels (laughs).
Danny Boyle: You just, you’ve got to help us raise the money.
What This Means For The 28 Years Later Trilogy
The Third Movie Is Not A Guarantee
These comments cement plans that were already announced regarding the impending trilogy from the 28 Days Later franchise. While Boyle returning as a director for the third installment was only revealed in January 2025, a full year after the trilogy was originally announced, Garland has always been attached to pen the screenplays of all three installments. Though DaCosta stepped into the director’s chair for The Bone Temple, Garland remained on board to write the screenplay for the movie, which wrapped production in October 2024.
Cillian Murphy is set to briefly reprise his original 28 Days Later role as Jim in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple.
However, Garland’s comments seem to indicate that the third installment in the trilogy has not been written yet. Boyle’s concerns about funding also expand on comments he made to Business Insider in early June, saying that “hopefully [Cillian] will help us get the third film financed.” This all seems to indicate that the production of the third installment is contingent on the box office performance of the first two movies.
This would prevent the third installment from following The Bone Temple as quickly as that тιтle follows the Danny Boyle movie, but a significant delay could potentially make it so that the third installment in the trilogy actually arrives 28 years after the original, should it be greenlit. This would fulfill the promise of the тιтle in a way that the new movie, which only comes 23 years later, could not.
Our Take On Boyle and Garland’s 28 Years Later Comments
Boyle’s Return Is Unusual But Gratifying
Boyle returning to helm the third installment in the trilogy is somewhat unusual, considering the fact that he stepped back from directing The Bone Temple, which will follow up from the ending of 28 Years Later. Generally, returning directors either direct all three installments or helm the first two installments and step away for the third (as was the case for the original Jurᴀssic Park and Terminator trilogies). However, these comments reaffirm the filmmakers’ collective commitment to the franchise, which makes the prospect of the universe potentially continuing into further installments even more exciting.
