28 Years Later fans may finally have some good news, after previously losing hope that a third film in the series would ever materialise. The second film in the trilogy, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, was released earlier this year but underperformed at the box office, causing fans to believe the third film had been scrapped.
Now, Alfie Williams, who plays Spike in the series, has raised fans’ hopes again, after sharing a photo on Instagram showing him using a crossbow.
Williams captioned the photo: “It’s Great to be Back!” with fans in the comments speculating that he was preparing to shoot the next film.
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One fan excitedly commented: “PLEASE TELL THIS MEANS WHAT I THINK AND HOPE IT MEANS,” while another added: “Does this mean we get 28 years part three? Let’s go!!!”
And a third wrote: “Come on part 3!” In 2024, it was announced that a trilogy of sequels to 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later was in development, with Alex Garland as screenwriter for all three.
28 Years Later and The Bone Temple were filmed back-to-back, with Danny Boyle directing the first, while Nia DaCosta directed the sequel. Boyle had been expected to helm the third film in the trilogy.
However, the 28 Days Later director later said that Sony hadn’t actually greenlighted the third film alongside the other two, and that it would only happen depending on the films’ financial success.
Sony Pictures
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While The Bone Temple was a hit with critics, it grossed only $57.6 million worldwide, compared with its predecessor’s $151.3 million, leaving fans worried that Sony would never greenlight the third film.
Speaking about the film’s disappointing box office performance, DaCosta told Empire earlier this month: “It’s so funny, because literally every barometer we use in the industry to determine whether or not a movie is good, and people like it and want to see it, was through the roof, and yet our box office wasn’t there.
“I made a great film, and I’m really proud of it, and people liked it.”
Following The Bone Temple’s release in January, fans have been met with complete silence from Sony on the previously announced third film, but thanks to Williams’ post, it looks like fans can start getting their hopes up again.
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Stephanie is a freelance news writer, who previously covered WWE and AEW for Digital Spy.
After graduating with a degree in history from Queen Mary University, London, she studied journalism at Birkbeck University.
Outside of her work at Digital Spy, she writes about pop culture, with a special focus towards Irish media and how it intersects with politics.
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