A popular franchise is back with 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, promising the return of several fan-favorite characters. 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple will be the fourth installment in the 28 Days saga, a film series focusing on a post-apocalyptic, rage-virus-infected Britain.

The film follows on from the events of 28 Years Later, which saw the film’s protagonist, Spike, leave his small island settlement to explore the mainland with his father. Despite soon learning the mainland was a savage place, infested with inhuman horrors, the film’s finale saw Spike exploring the mainland alone, attracted to the secrets and wonders contained within.

Shortly after releasing a handful of first-look images for 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, Sony shared the official trailer for the movie, confirming the return of several characters to the franchise. From the criminally insane to the unᴅᴇᴀᴅ, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple promises appearances from several familiar faces, some of whom are from decades past.

Dr. Ian Kelson

Ralph Fiennes

Featured prominently in the film’s trailer is Dr. Ian Kelson, portrayed by Ralph Fiennes, who appeared as a central character in 28 Years Later. Kelson is a former medical doctor, now a lone survivor, who inhabits the тιтular Bone Temple.

Kelson builds and maintains the Bone Temple as a monument to human life, crafting the structure out of the bones of the ᴅᴇᴀᴅ, both human and infected. This strange habit led to folklore of Kelson’s madness spreading across the mainland, with the inhabitants of Holy Island, Spike’s home, avoiding Kelson at all costs.

However, regardless of warnings, Spike forms a close relationship with Kelson by 28 Years Later‘s finale, realizing the true intentions of the monument. With Kelson’s ties to the bone temple and his prominent feature in the trailer, alongside his close relationship with Spike, it seems clear that Dr. Ian Kelson will be a staple character within the upcoming movie.

Samson

Chi Lewis-Parry

Samson, a towering brute of an infected, returns in the trailer for 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, portrayed by Chi Lewis-Parry. Samson was a recurring antagonist within 28 Years Later, recognizable via his enhanced physical strength and durability, as a result of the rage virus acting as a steroid, turning him into an “Alpha.”

28 Years Later introduced “Alphas” into the universe, showing these creatures to be unstoppable forces of nature, with their slight cognitive function allowing them to lead hunting packs. Despite his aggression, after dosing Samson with a morphine dart, Dr. Ian Kelson found the drug to be an effective tool in subduing the beast temporarily.

During 28 Years Later, Kelson is shown to have formed something of a relationship with Samson, taking a slight liking to the brute. With the two reuniting within the trailer, it can be expected that Kelson and Samson’s relationship will be explored further within 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, particularly with Kelson and his structure taking center stage.

Jimmy Crystal

Jack O’Connell

Undoubtedly, the biggest surprise and talking point of 28 Years Later‘s finale was the inclusion of Jimmy Crystal, a cult leader resembling disgraced UK media personality Jimmy Savile. Despite criticism from audiences on the inclusion of the character, he is featured heavily in the trailer for 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, with Jack O’Connell returning to the role.

Within the last few minutes of 28 Years Later‘s runtime, Jimmy Crystal spontaneously appears to save Spike from the infected, donning long white hair, an array of gold rings, and a purple tracksuit. Surrounded by his cult, “The Jimmies,” a group of survivors sporting matching attire, it is clear from his short appearance that Jimmy Crystal is a twisted, yet powerful man.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple‘s trailer prominently features Jimmy and his cult, committing heinous acts with Spike newly enlisted into their corrupt gang. The villainous nature of Crystal and his evil deeds, paired with his apparent control over Spike, perfectly set up the character to be the movie’s main villain.

The Jimmies

Littered throughout the trailer were appearances from members of “The Jimmies,” a cult led by Jimmy Crystal, where each member dons matching names and eccentric attire. Debuting within the final minutes of 28 Years Later, the gang is set to return in the sequel, seen committing numerous inhumane acts in the trailer.

The cult’s members are set up to be recurring antagonists throughout 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, clearly shown in the trailer as a group of tyrants, spreading fear throughout the wasteland. With young Spike now in the group’s possession, seen wearing a version of the gang’s outfits, it seems Spike’s only option is to attempt to escape the cult within the upcoming sequel.

With several members of the cult seen in both 28 Years Later and the trailer for its sequel, it is unknown the sheer size and power of “The Jimmies;” however, their evil intentions are clear. The movie will likely feature Spike’s escape from the cult, showcasing the ramifications of betraying the group on Spike and his friends, new and old.

Spike

Alfie Williams

The central protagonist of 28 Years Later, Spike, a young boy from a remote island sanctuary, returns in the trailer for 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. After fleeing his home and embarking on a solo adventure into the mainland in 28 Years Later, Spike was last seen encountering “The Jimmies,” who offered to save him from an imminent threat of the infected.

Within the trailer, it is clear that Spike has been taken under the wing of “The Jimmies,” seen sitting around a table with the cult while wearing the group’s unique outfit. Spike is seemingly implicated in the wrongdoings of the cult, who are seen torturing other survivors, an act that completely opposes Spike’s caring nature established in his first appearance.

Spike’s story will continue throughout the events of 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, likely involving conflict with “The Jimmies” after escaping the cult’s clutches. With the trailer featuring friends of Spike’s, such as Dr. Ian Kelson, Spike will likely reunite with familiar faces from his past while on the mainland.

Jim

Cillian Murphy

Although not featured in the trailer, Alex Garland has confirmed Cillian Murphy will return as his character Jim from 28 Days Later in the upcoming sequel. Jim is a former bicycle courier from London and survivor of the original rage-virus outbreak, last seen in the franchise’s first installment.

Despite speculation, Jim’s whereabouts and condition are unknown, with the character last appearing almost three decades before the events of 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. Audiences last saw Jim alongside his partner Selena and young friend Hannah, flagging down a plane flying overhead, in hopes of rescue.

Garland has teased a smaller role for Jim within the upcoming movie, with the role evolving into a more prominent feature in the 28 Years Later trilogy’s third and final entry. How and when Jim will appear in the film is unknown; however, it is confirmed that the character will return at some point during the film’s runtime.