The story of 28 Years Later is far from over, but its next chapter may take longer to reach cinemas than fans expected. Director Danny Boyle has revealed that 28 Years Later: Part III is currently on the back burner, despite Alex Garland having already written what Boyle describes as a “fantastic script.” Speaking at the BFI London Film Festival in October 2026, Boyle identified funding as the main obstacle. The disappointing box-office performance of 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple has made the road to the planned trilogy finale less certain, leaving the franchise’s future unresolved.
“Alex has written a fantastic script. We just need money,” Boyle said, according to Variety. His update makes an important distinction: the third film is not waiting for its story to take shape. The screenplay is complete, but the project still needs financial backing before it can move forward. Boyle has not announced that the film has been cancelled, and neither a production start date nor a release date has been confirmed. For now, the question is whether the studio will commit to bringing the trilogy to its conclusion.
The box-office figures help explain the hesitation. 28 Years Later, released in 2025, earned approximately $151 million worldwide, giving the franchise a strong start after its return to cinemas. Its follow-up, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, directed by Nia DaCosta, had a markedly different result. Released in 2026, the film earned approximately $58.5 million worldwide against a reported production budget of $63 million.
The sequel’s theatrical earnings fell below its reported production cost, even before marketing and distribution expenses are considered. Although those figures alone do not establish the film’s overall profit or loss, the decline from the first instalment is difficult to ignore. For a studio weighing the cost of another film, the commercial performance of the latest chapter is an important consideration.
Yet one of the biggest frustrations for fans is what The Bone Temple left unfinished. The film’s closing moments bring Spike, played by Alfie Williams, face to face with Jim, the survivor portrayed by Cillian Murphy in 28 Days Later. Jim’s return connects the new films to the 2002 original and opens the door to a reunion that could shape the next stage of the story.
That connection gives 28 Years Later: Part III more than another chapter to deliver. Spike has been finding his way through a world transformed by the rage virus, while Jim represents a direct link to the events that began the franchise. Bringing them together offers the filmmakers an opportunity to connect the series’ past with the future it has been building. With the third film on hold, however, audiences are left waiting to discover what happens after that long-awaited encounter.
Scheduling presents another potential challenge. Garland is directing A24’s big-screen adaptation of Elden Ring, based on the hugely popular fantasy video game. The film is scheduled to reach cinemas in March 2028, adding another major commitment to Garland’s calendar. While that release date does not determine when he might return to the zombie franchise, his workload adds another complication to a project that has yet to secure funding.
For now, 28 Years Later: Part III remains a possibility rather than a confirmed production. The script is complete, the story has a clear direction, and Boyle has expressed hope that the film will happen. But until the funding is secured and schedules align, the trilogy’s final chapter cannot move forward.
By ending with Jim and Spike’s meeting, The Bone Temple set up a continuation that could bring the franchise full circle. Whether that reunion unfolds on screen anytime soon will depend on decisions beyond the story itself. For now, the next chapter has been written, but its journey to the big screen remains uncertain.
