'28 Years Later III' is happening; Cillian Murphy may return
What's the story
Sony Pictures is moving ahead with a third installment of the popular zombie horror franchise, 28 Years Later, reported Deadline. The decision comes after positive fan reactions to early screenings of the second film in the trilogy, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple (January 16, 2026 release). Series screenwriter Alex Garland is currently working on the script for this upcoming movie. The franchise began in 2002 with 28 Days Later.
Cast discussions
Cillian Murphy's potential return to '28 Years Later III'
Cillian Murphy is reportedly in talks to reprise his role as Jim from 28 Days Later and The Bone Temple. However, no official announcement has been made regarding the cast for the third installment. Earlier this year, 28 Years Later debuted with Garland and Danny Boyle back at the helm, while Nia DaCosta directed The Bone Temple. Boyle's role as director for the third installment is not confirmed.
Box office performance
'28 Years Later' and 'The Bone Temple' success
The first two films in the trilogy, 28 Years Later and 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, were produced by Sony. The former opened to $30 million on June 20 and grossed $151 million worldwide. The latter is directed by DaCosta and will be released in theaters next month. Early screenings have reportedly given Sony the confidence to complete the trilogy with a third installment. Jodie Comer from 28 Years Later will return for The Bone Temple.
Franchise overview
Franchise history and cast details
The zombie horror franchise began in 2002 with Fox Searchlight's 28 Days Later, directed by Boyle. Murphy, Naomie Harris, Brendan Gleeson, and Christopher Eccleston starred in the first film. It was a critical and commercial success, grossing over $72 million worldwide on an $8 million budget. Fox Atomic released a sequel, 28 Weeks Later in 2007 with an entirely new cast, and it failed to hit any mark.