Sounds Like 28 YEARS LATER: PART III Isn’t Happening Any Time Soon

The disappointing box office numbers for 28 Years Later sequel 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple mean that the planned trilogy’s conclusion is still struggling to lock in financing for the sequel. So much so that its originators are focusing on other projects.

via: Fangoria

It's a bad time to be a 28 Years Later fan, as the long-awaited third chapter of Danny Boyle's post-apocalyptic trilogy isn't headed our way any time soon.

At a Q&A for his latest movie Ink, Boyle told attendees at London Film Festival that 28 Years Later: Part III (title TBA) is currently “on the back burner”, despite previous reports that crew were eyeing a 2027 filming start due to weather restrictions involving the film's set.

Boyle went on to add that 28 Years Later scribe Alex Garland's current projects (an Elden Ring adaptation at A24) were keeping him busy, but “hopes” that financing can be locked in to finish the story that started back in 2002 with 28 Days Later.

This latter point is one of concern; despite Nia DaCosta's sequel 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple being an almost-unanimously praised critical success earlier this year, the box office numbers sadly didn't align with public opinion, casting doubt on whether a third 28 Years Later movie was going ahead at Sony.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple saw Ralph Fiennes, Alfie Williams and Jack O'Connell return to star as survivors of the Rage Virus that ravaged Britain almost three decades prior.

Also written by Garland (Ex Machina, Annihilation), the pic saw a continuation of the epic story in which Dr. Kelson (Fiennes) finds himself in a shocking new relationship with the Alpha Infected Samson (Chi Lewis-Parry) – with consequences that could change the world as they know it – while Spike's (Williams) encounter with Jimmy Crystal (O'Connell) becomes a nightmare he can't escape:

28 Days Later star Cillian Murphy executive produced the post-apocalyptic sequel, and returned to his role as Jim the bicycle courier, leaving The Bone Temple on a cliffhanger that would presumably see him and Spike team up against the Rage Infected (and perhaps return to the Holy Island) in the third movie.

All we can do now is hope and pray that Garland's Elden Ring adaptation goes as smoothly as possible, and that film financiers will look past The Bone Temple‘s poor box office reception to see a story that desperately needs finishing. Perhaps some success at the upcoming FANGORIA Chainsaw Awards would help persuade them. Fingers crossed.