Nia DaCosta says 28 Years Later sequel is 'hopeful' compared to zombie films

Movieweb reports that 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple director Nia DaCosta said the sequel expresses a 'depth of hope' that distinguishes it from what she called the often 'hopeless' zombie genre.

Speaking on the Deadline Crew Call podcast, DaCosta said the franchise tackles existential themes and advances a 'humanist vision' embodied by Ralph Fiennes' Kelson, who she describes as finding peace in a 'bone temple' that serves as a memorial to life. She contrasted Kelson's still, measured world with the violent, erratic Jimmies and said that contrast shaped her shooting approach — calmer, peaceful coverage for Kelson and darker, more cutting, whip-pan-driven camerawork for the Jimmies. The piece also reiterates the franchise's factual distinction from traditional zombies: the Rage-infected do not hunger for flesh but infect through blood transference and scratching.

The Bone Temple is due January 16, 2026. It is directed by Nia DaCosta from a script by Alex Garland, with producers listed including Andrew Macdonald, Bernard Bellew and Danny Boyle, and the report notes the Infected continue to haunt Cillian Murphy's Jim.

Key Topics

Culture, Nia Dacosta, Alex Garland, Cillian Murphy, Kelson, Rage Virus