Fake Hype? 28 Years Later 3 Reportedly Moving Forward

Right on cue — just weeks before 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple hits theaters — a new report claims that a third film is officially moving forward at Sony.

But is this real news, or just a strategic marketing ploy?

Deadline says the “electric fan reaction” to The Bone Temple at recent screenings has prompted Sony to greenlight the third movie, with Cillian Murphy in talks to return and Alex Garland writing. Danny Boyle is also said to be eyeing a return as director.

Timing Seems Convenient

This “announcement” comes just in time to help build buzz for The Bone Temple, which opens January 16, 2026.

It smells a lot like damage control, especially after the first film underperformed.

The original 28 Years Later grossed $151 million worldwide. The break-even threshold was reportedly between $150M and $187.5M — meaning Sony barely scraped by at best.

Studios don’t greenlight sequels to projects that just break even (Bone Temple was already in the works), let alone ones that likely lost money after marketing and distribution cuts.

The DaCosta Factor

Complicating matters is the director of The Bone Temple, Nia DaCosta — whose last film, The Marvels, was one of the biggest box office flops in Disney history, reportedly losing hundreds of millions.

That doesn’t inspire confidence in the sequel’s financial performance, or in the franchise’s long-term viability.

Is It Really Greenlit?

According to Deadline, Sony had an option for a third movie from the start. That means they didn’t just decide this now — they already had the rights.

They’re simply choosing to hype it now, before the second film releases, which looks like a PR move more than a true signal of confidence.

Alex Garland himself previously told Variety that a third film was only possible “if we ever get to make it as a trilogy,” suggesting there was no firm plan unless the films performed. So far, they haven’t.

This “28 Years Later 3” news feels more like a publicity tool to drive attention toward The Bone Temple than a true vote of confidence in the franchise’s future.

What went wrong? I go over it here.