The first trailer for 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple hints that humans may be the real threat, even as England remains torn apart by the rage virus in this fourth entry in the 28 Years saga and a continuation of the world stirred by Danny Boyle’s earlier work.
In the clip, a young Spike, played by Alfie Williams, is drawn into the dangerous orbit of Sir Jimmy Crystal and his chic, blond-haired crew. At the same time, Dr. Kelson, portrayed by Ralph Fiennes, pursues a perilous new dynamic with the Alpha virus-carrier Samson. The trailer makes clear the threat landscape is dominated by human dangers as much as by the infected, with chaos and brutality continuing to surge across the landscape.
The world-building moments are underscored by Berzilla Wallin’s performance of “Conversation With Death,” accompanied by an eerie voiceover featuring a clip of Arthur C. Clarke from an old Horizon episode. The mood sets a tone that is both elevated and unsettling, signaling a film that aims to be visually distinctive and audacious in its storytelling.
Directed by Nia DaCosta, with Alex Garland as the screenwriter and a producing team that includes Danny Boyle, Garland, Andrew Macdonald, Peter Rice, and Bernard Bellew, The Bone Temple also features Erin Kellyman and Emma Laird in supporting roles. The film is set for a wide release on January 16.
Speaking about the project, Jack O’Connell described the movie as the “weird, deranged cousin” to 28 Years Later, noting that it explores how nature ultimately asserts itself. He suggested the infected aren’t simply antagonists; the story invites audiences to consider deeper questions about survival and consequence. DaCosta, who stepped in after Boyle wrapped production, emphasized that while she aimed to make the film her own, the result retains the same offbeat, artistically personal energy that defines the series.
O’Connell also commented that the trailer successfully conveys the film’s mood and vibe without revealing too much of the plot, promising a story that “goes places.” The official synopsis frames The Bone Temple as expanding the world created by Boyle and Garland while turning it on its head. Dr. Kelson’s evolving relationship and Spike’s confrontation with Crystal become a nightmare he cannot escape, and the Danish-term theme that the greatest threat may come from survivors’ inhumanity, rather than the virus itself, is highlighted as a throughline.
Additional value and context:
– This installment marks a bold shift in tone and focus, foregrounding human dynamics and ethical ambiguities in a world still dominated by a deadly virus.
– The collaboration across a new generation of filmmakers, with DaCosta steering the project and Garland’s continuing involvement in the script, signals a blend of reverence for the source material and fresh creative exploration.
– If the trailers’ clues are any indication, the film could offer a visually striking, character-driven thriller that reframes the zombie-survival premise around the choices people make when civilization frays.
Summary: The Bone Temple raises the stakes by placing human frailty and moral complexity at the center of a post-outbreak landscape, while preserving the high-energy atmosphere and franchise DNA that fans expect. The release on January 16 invites audiences to reevaluate what constitutes the greatest threat in a world where fear, power, and empathy collide. Positive note: the film promises a daring, artistically ambitious continuation that could broaden the franchise’s thematic reach while delivering the adrenaline and ambition audiences look for.