The apocalypse never looked this eerie. The trailer for 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple has finally dropped, and while followers of the iconic franchise might have expected to see Cillian Murphy reprise his haunting role, he is nowhere in sight. Instead, the spotlight this time belongs to a chilling new figure who, not very long ago, portrayed a similar part as this one in Sinners.

Clad in the same shadow and menace as his previous role, the villain from Ryan Coogler’s film has now evolved into a ruthless survivalist. But who is this figure in question?

Josh O’Connell commands the spotlight in the newly released trailer for 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, stepping into a terrifying new role in the same villainous vein as his last horror outing, Sinners. Known from that film as vampire cult leader Remmick, O’Connell has evolved into the merciless survivalist warlord Jimmy Crystal. His menacing presence dominates the post-apocalyptic landscape as he leads his followers through chaos and brutality. Fans expecting Cillian Murphy’s return as Jim, strikingly, are left noting O’Connell as the face of this chilling chapter.

Set years after the original outbreak, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple introduces new characters navigating a brutal, post-apocalyptic Britain. Ralph Fiennes stars as Dr. Ian Kelson, while Alfie Williams plays Spike, a young survivor caught in Josh O’Connell’s warlord character’s world. The trailer highlights human cruelty toward the infected, suggesting a grimmer, psychological direction, making many curious for its arrival in theaters. Is there a release date for the film yet, though?

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Promising blood, chaos, and Jimmy Crystal’s terrifying rise, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is only months away.

The wait for 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple ceases on January 16, 2026. Directed by Noah DaCosta (Candyman, The Marvels) and written by Alex Garland, the film is poised to redefine the franchise. With a chilling score by Hildur Guðnadóttir, an edge-of-the-seat cinematic experience appears locked in. The installment was notably shot back-to-back with its 2025 prequel.

Ultimately, with January 2026 nearing, the haunting landscapes of 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple come alive under Jimmy Crystal’s ruthless rule. And while the absence of Cillian Murphy is felt, his enduring career, visible in his full future professional slate, continues to inspire the franchise’s legacy. In this next chapter, fear is human, survival is brutal, and the post-apocalyptic world has never felt more unforgiving.

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Did Josh O’Connell leave you impressed in the 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple trailer? Let us know in the comments.