Over four months before the release of 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, it’s already clear that the movie has accomplished a very impressive feat. The highly anticipated sequel will pick up not long after the ending of 28 Years Later, which saw Spike encounter the mysterious (and quite creepy) Jimmy Crystal and his followers.

In addition to Spike and Jimmy, several other characters from 28 Years Later will return for the sequel. The trailer for 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple also highlights the evolving relationship between Dr. Kelson and Samson, an infected Alpha who roams the United Kingdom’s mainland.

However, even though 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is continuing the story of the first movie, Danny Boyle did not return to direct. Instead, Nia DaCosta helmed the sequel. This provided a cause for concern initially, but based on the trailer for 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, it seems like DaCosta did an exceptional job at taking over directing duties from Boyle.

It Looks Like Nia DaCosta Was The Perfect Choice To Direct 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple

Since he directed 28 Days Later, the franchise’s original movie, fans were thrilled when it was announced that Boyle would return to the series. Because of his involvement, it’s not necessarily a surprise that 28 Years Later is amazing. While Boyle also plans to direct the third and final movie in the 28 Years Later trilogy, he didn’t helm The Bone Temple.

DaCosta is not a bad filmmaker by any means. Her most recent movie, The Marvels, may have disappointed some MCU fans, but her first two films, Candyman and Little Woods, both have great reviews. Therefore, I was never necessarily worried that DaCosta was the wrong choice to helm The Bone Temple, but a previous 28 Days Later sequel directed by someone other than Boyle is the lowest-rated movie in the franchise.

2007’s 28 Weeks Later, which was directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, has a 73% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes (via Rotten Tomatoes). This isn’t necessarily bad, but it can’t stack up against 28 Days Later’s 87% and 28 Years Later’s 88%. Fans and critics have argued that Fresnadillo tried too hard to mimic Boyle’s unique style that worked so well for 28 Days Later.

Therefore, there was reason to worry that DaCosta’s 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple might also stand out like a sore thumb in the franchise. However, the trailer for The Bone Temple proves that it will be a perfect continuation of the story that Boyle began with 28 Years Later.

It looks like 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple will explore the characters even deeper and expand the world of the franchise in fascinating ways. At one point, it may have seemed impossible that anyone other than Boyle could direct a successful movie in the zombie franchise, but I’m now confident that DaCosta will prove this sentiment wrong with 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple.