Danny Boyle has confirmed that the planned finale to the 28 Years Later trilogy will center on Cillian Murphy, and that Alex Garland has already written the script. Speaking at the Zurich Film Festival on September 30 while presenting Ink, Boyle said the film would happen but couldn’t pin down a timeline.
“[It will have] a lot of Cillian Murphy in it,” he told Variety, describing Garland’s screenplay as “a very good script.” As for when cameras might roll, he admitted: “Quite when I’m not sure.”
Murphy first played Jim in 28 Days Later back in 2002. He sat out 2025’s 28 Years Later before resurfacing briefly at the end of 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, setting the stage for a larger return.
Boyle has hinted at where the story is headed. In June 2025, he told Rolling Stone the third installment “would bring everything full circle.” And in March 2026, Murphy told The Times he was eager to see it move forward: “I’m ready anyway.”
The movie would close out the new trilogy and stand as the fifth entry in the wider franchise. Boyle directed 28 Years Later, while Nia DaCosta directed The Bone Temple, which opened on January 16, 2026.
The first two films were shot back-to-back, but the third wasn’t part of that production. Boyle wants to direct it himself, though a final title, official plot and additional casting have yet to be announced.
The pieces have been slowly falling into place. Deadline reported in December 2025 that Sony was moving ahead with the film and that Murphy was in talks. The Bone Temple went on to earn roughly $58.5 million worldwide, compared with about $151.3 million for 28 Years Later, according to Bloody Disgusting. Sony hasn’t publicly confirmed Boyle’s September update.
Timing remains the biggest question mark. In May, Boyle told JoBlo that a British location’s seasonal filming restrictions had ruled out a 2026 shoot, and that he hoped to film in 2027. His September comments left even that uncertain, and there’s still no announced production start or release date.
