Acclaimed director Danny Boyle has confirmed that the third installment of the 28 Years Later trilogy will officially be made. He shared this news to reassure fans despite ongoing uncertainty regarding the project’s exact timeline. Speaking at the Zurich Film Festival, Boyle addressed the status of the highly anticipated final chapter of the post-apocalyptic horror franchise.
The script for the sequel, written by franchise veteran Alex Garland, is already complete. Boyle emphasized that persistent public interest and fan demand are the primary driving forces keeping the production alive.
“28 Years 3, or whatever it ends up being called, will get made because people keep asking about it. Quite when I’m not sure, but there’s a script – a very good script by Alex Garland,” Boyle told the audience in Zurich.
Cillian Murphy Expected to Have a Major Role
For fans wondering about the return of original star Cillian Murphy, Boyle offered an encouraging update. After making a brief cameo appearance as Jim in the second film, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, Murphy is slated to feature heavily in the trilogy’s conclusion.
“[It will have] a lot of Cillian Murphy in it,” Boyle said. He humorously added regarding Murphy’s physical transformation, “Whether he’ll take his kit off anymore, that I don’t know. He’s got the Oscar now.”
Murphy’s character Jim was last seen in The Bone Temple alongside his daughter Sam. This sets up a dramatic narrative thread for the final movie.
Box Office Hurdles and Production Timeline
While Boyle’s remarks provide confidence, an official green light and release date from Sony Pictures are still pending. The uncertainty surrounding the final chapter largely stems from the box office performance of 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. That film grossed approximately $58.5 million worldwide following its January release, falling short of the commercial heights reached by the first film in the trilogy.
Despite these financial hurdles, the creative team remains committed to finishing the story. With Garland’s script polished and both Boyle and Murphy eager to complete the arc, the Rage virus saga appears poised for one final, definitive cinematic chapter.
