How 28 Years Later Sets Up a Massive Third Movie With a Surprise Character

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Even before the first movie came out, fans suspected that 28 Years Later wouldn’t be a one-time sequel. The creators, Danny Boyle and Alex Garland, envisioned a whole series of three new films, and now, two of them are already released. 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is currently in theaters, and like the first film, it sets up the story for the next installment. Be warned: spoilers for 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple are coming up next.

A big reason fans are excited about the new ’28 Years Later’ movies is the return of Cillian Murphy, the star of the original ’28 Days Later’. He wasn’t just acting – he was involved from the very beginning as an executive producer, with a plan for his character, Jim, to reappear. While it was rumored he’d be back in ‘The Bone Temple’, it’s now confirmed. But the biggest surprise is who he’s sharing the screen with: Jim’s daughter, a character no one predicted!

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple Confirms Jim and Selena Have a Daughter

As 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple comes to an end, the film offers a final, surprising scene. After showing Spike and Kelly leaving the Bone Temple, the movie cuts to a quiet countryside cottage. Inside, a young woman named Sam is reading about the period following World War II. We hear her father explaining why the Allied nations chose to help rebuild the economies of their former enemies, and then the film reveals that the voice belongs to Jim from the original 28 Days Later. The scene strongly suggests that Sam is the daughter of Jim and Selena (Naomi Harris). While Selena doesn’t appear, there’s nothing to suggest she isn’t still alive and well somewhere.

Inside the house, Sam and Jim hear the groans of approaching infected people, and Sam asks her dad what their plan should be. When they step outside armed, they see Spike and Kelly running from a horde of infected. Sam wonders if they should help, and Jim immediately agrees, leaving the movie on a cliffhanger that hints at what’s to come.

The introduction of the character Sam is particularly interesting because it hints at the direction of the next 28 Years Later film. She feels instantly well-developed – from her very first lines, it’s clear she’s both smart and curious. Her parents have clearly tried to give her a balanced upbringing, teaching her about the world beyond just surviving the dangers of infected Britain. This is a stark contrast to how Spike was raised, focusing solely on survival instincts. Because of their different backgrounds, Sam and Spike are set on a path to conflict, which will likely be a central focus of the third film. This conflict promises to be compelling and will allow the series to continue exploring diverse perspectives, something it has already done so effectively.

While we don’t have a release date yet, the movie 28 Years Later 3 is officially happening! Cillian Murphy will return, and he’ll be joined by Alfie Williams as Spike, Erin Kellyman as Kelly (previously known as Jimmy Ink), and another new cast member named Sam.

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2026-01-17 00:11