28 Years Later sequel drops intense trailer with unrecognisable SAS Rogue Heroes star

An intense new trailer for the sequel to 28 Years Later has dropped and it gives a glimpse at a near unrecognisable star of BBC period drama.

Jack O'Connell, known for roles in SAS Rogue Heroes, along with films such as Sinners and Unbroken stars in the horror follow-up after making a cameo appearance in the previous title.

Subtitled The Bone Temple. the film promises to expand even further on the world created by director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland but turns it on its head. The best news for fans, is that they have significantly less time to wait before it lands in cinemas than they did between the last two films.

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28 Days Later was first released in 2002, with the second entry 28 Weeks Later landing in 2007. Fans then had to wait more than a decade before 28 Years Later, which arrived in 2025.

However, The Bone Temple will be available less than two years later in January 2026. In a continuation of the epic story, Ralph Fiennes returns as Dr. Kelson and finds himself in a shocking new relationship.

This holds consequences that could change the world as they know it and Spike's (Alfie Williams) encounter with Jimmy Crystal (Jack O'Connell) becomes a nightmare he can't escape. In the world of The Bone Temple, the infected are no longer the greatest threat to survival. The inhumanity of the survivors can be stranger and more terrifying.

Candyman and The Marvels director Nia DaCosta is at the helm for the sequel. Aaron Taylor Johnson is also expected to reprise his role.

However, immediately catching the eye of fans is O'Connell's character of adult Jimmy Crystal. He leads a new post-apocalyptic gang called The Jimmys. Marvel and Star Wars actor Erin Kellyman also features as a member of said gang.

This character was seen in the beginning of 28 Years Later. He is a long time survivor of the virus who witnessed the gruesome death of his family and has since become a vicious leader of his gang. Perhaps bizarrely, all members, including himself, don long blonde hair and gold chains, styling themselves after the controversial TV presenter Jimmy Savile.

This inspiration was intentional, as Boyle and Garland have spoken about how the new trilogy of films will examine how survivors remember the past in different ways. Although as the outbreak occurred in 2002, this could be considered a world when Savile's crimes were never discovered.

Boyle told Business Insider: "He's (Savile) as much to do with pop culture as he is to do with sportswear, to do with cricket, to do with the honours system. It's all kind of twisting in this partial remembrance, clinging onto things and then recreating them as an image for followers."

Fans excitement has been heightened after the trailer's release. Especially as it is still reported the original film's star Cillian Murphy could make a cameo appearance.

Reacting to the trailer, one person commented: "Oh my gosh I love Jack O’Connell, I can’t wait to see more of him as a villain after Sinners!!"

Another added: "Wow, what an epic trailer. Now I'll be watching this another 50 times." Someone else admitted: "For some reason, the Jimmy Savile cult narrative has got me completely hooked on this franchise."

28 Years Later The Bone Temple is in cinemas January 16.