Director Danny Boyle confirmed at the Zurich Film Festival this week that 28 Years Later 3 will still be made, citing a finished Alex Garland script and a major role for Cillian Murphy.
TL;DR
- Boyle says the third film "will get made" despite no start date.
- He says Garland's script is written and "very good".
- Murphy is expected to have a big part as Jim.
- The Bone Temple underperformed at the box office.
What Boyle said about 28 Years Later 3
Boyle was promoting his new film Ink when he addressed the trilogy's future, according to Bleeding Cool. He told Variety the film will get made because people keep asking about it.
"Quite when I'm not sure," Boyle said, but there is "a very good script by Alex Garland," according to Dread Central.
It is a busy stretch for horror news. Shudder's Stephen King-endorsed The Cycle is also getting attention this week.
Cillian Murphy's role in the trilogy closer
Boyle promised "a lot of Cillian Murphy in it," according to Collider. He joked that he doesn't know whether the Oscar winner will strip off again, as in the original film.
Cillian Murphy returned as Jim in a brief appearance at the end of The Bone Temple, according to iHorror. Sony greenlit the third film in December, with Murphy in talks to star, TheWrap reported.
Writer Alex Garland has scripted all three films in the new run. Boyle's comments suggest the screenplay is now complete.
UK box office and release context
The Bone Temple opened in the UK and Ireland on 14 January from Sony Pictures Releasing, according to Box Office Pro. It carries a BBFC 18 certificate.
The first film opened to just under £5 million in the UK and Ireland. It finished with roughly £15 million, the same report said.
£15 million
28 Years Later UK and Ireland total
Source: Box Office Pro
$58 million
The Bone Temple worldwide gross, against a $63 million budget
Source: Fangoria
92%
The Bone Temple Rotten Tomatoes score
Source: Fangoria
Fangoria reported the sequel was a critical hit but a commercial miss. That gap is why its future was in doubt.
Slow starters sometimes find their audience later. Richard Kelly recently reflected on how Donnie Darko went from a rough early reception to cult status.
When could filming start?
There is still no release date. In May, Boyle said he hoped to start filming in 2027, "fingers crossed," according to Cosmic Book News. He blamed seasonal filming windows in the part of Britain where the story is set.
Garland has long planned the story as a trilogy, and Alex Garland previously said he had mapped out all three films. For now, Boyle's update confirms intent rather than a schedule.
Horror fans have other dates to note. Curry Barker's Anything But Ghosts opens on 7 May 2027.
Reported from publicly available interviews and verified press sources. Last reviewed 1 October 2026.
