Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s Absence In 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple Explained By Director

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Be warned, this article contains minor spoilers for 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple! Despite playing a central role in the previous film, Aaron Taylor-Johnson does not return for 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, and director Nia DaCosta has explained why. Taylor-Johnson starred as Jamie, a survivor of the Rage virus outbreak, in Danny Boyle’s 2025 revival of the franchise. The film followed Jamie as he scavenged on the island of Lindisfarne with his wife, Isla (played by Jodie Comer), and son, Spike (played by Alfie Williams).

As the story of 28 Years Later unfolds, Jamie becomes a complex figure. After teaching his son, Spike, survival skills, complications arise when Spike discovers Jamie had an affair with the local schoolteacher. He then stubbornly refuses to allow Jamie to help his ailing mother, Isla. This leads Spike to take Isla to the mainland seeking help from Dr. Ian Kelson, played by Ralph Fiennes, prompting Jamie to try and find them and bring them home.

Nia DaCosta, director of the upcoming sequel, recently explained to ScreenRant’s Liam Crowley why Aaron Taylor-Johnson won’t be appearing in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. She clarified that he was never intended to be in the script for the second film, and jokingly blamed co-star Jamie for infidelity, calling him a “son of a bh” for cheating on his wife.

DaCosta clarified that Aaron Taylor-Johnson isn’t in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple because the story focuses on Spike and his journey to adulthood, specifically his decision to move out on his own. It’s simply not a story about Taylor-Johnson’s character.

Nia DaCosta explains that this part of the story focuses on Spike being independent and facing challenges without his father’s help. She believes it was crucial to show him learning to handle the world on his own.

The ending of 28 Years Later left Jamie in a difficult situation. Spike, deeply affected by the loss of Isla through euthanasia performed by Dr. Kelson, left their baby at the entrance to Jamie’s village. He also explained in a letter that he needed time to figure things out on the mainland. Unfortunately, Jamie couldn’t follow his son because the island was once again cut off from the mainland by the rising tide.

Because 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple starts right after the previous movie, it makes sense that Taylor-Johnson isn’t returning. The village leaders wouldn’t allow anyone to search for missing people, prioritizing the safety of the community. Also, Jamie didn’t manage to find Spike during the 28 days between leaving the baby and letter and encountering Jack O’Connell’s character, Jimmy.

However, the most significant aspect is DaCosta’s point that 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple primarily focuses on Spike’s ongoing journey of self-discovery, rather than Jamie’s search for his son. After already battling the horrors of the infected in the first movie, the sequel truly centers on Spike’s confrontation with the darkness within humanity, specifically through the Jimmys and their disturbing practices, and his struggle to maintain his sense of right and wrong.

Now that Jamie has overcome his conflict with Jimmy and gained a new perspective on life, the upcoming film, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, can delve into his emotional struggles after the events of the first movie. Aaron Taylor-Johnson hinted to ScreenRant that his character is spiraling after the loss of Isla and Spike’s departure. With Spike about to interact with Cillian Murphy’s Jim, the film could explore the differences between Jamie’s and Jim’s approaches to parenting.

Be sure to dive into some of our other 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple coverage with:

  • Nia DaCosta on changing Samson’s design for the new film
  • DaCosta on Cillian Murphy’s return as Jim and why he’s not necessarily a hero
  • Our guide to why 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is getting the franchise’s best reviews yet

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2026-01-16 21:19