Danny Boyle is still hoping to film the third 28 Years Later movie, even after The Bone Temple collapsed at the box office.
The director claims the delay is due to timing, not a lack of interest.
“We ran out of time,” Boyle said, explaining that the movie is set in an area of Britain where they can only film at certain times of the year.
Boyle added that he hopes to film next year.
“So it’ll be, hopefully, fingers crossed, next year,” Boyle said.
He also claimed there is still enthusiasm for the third movie and that Alex Garland has written “a wonderful script” for it.
No Release Date Or Official Title Yet
The third 28 Years Later movie still does not have a release date.
It also does not have an official title.
JoBlo reports Boyle plans to start production next year, but the wording is worth noting. Boyle did not say the movie is locked and ready to go. He said “hopefully” and “fingers crossed.”
That comes after months of questions about the future of the planned trilogy.
The first 28 Years Later didn’t exactly light the box office on fire, and The Bone Temple performed even worse.
The Bone Temple Bombed At The Box Office
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple opened to only $12.5 million domestically.
The sequel went on to make around $58.5 million worldwide, including only around $25 million domestic.
That is a massive drop from 28 Years Later, which made around $151 million worldwide and over $70 million domestically, which are already low numbers and nothing to brag about.
What the sequel numbers reveal is that over 60% of the audience didn’t return after watching the first one.
Fast Netflix Release Raised More Questions
The release window also didn’t help the perception.
The Bone Temple hit VOD after only 32 days in theaters, which the CEO of Netflix confirmed happens when a title underperforms.
That fast move to digital and streaming made it look like Sony wanted to move on from the theatrical run as fast as possible.
Will Part 3 Go Straight To Filming?
The big question now is what happens with the third movie.
Maybe Sony and Boyle just go straight to filming and finish the trilogy anyway.
Garland already has the script. Boyle wants to direct. Cillian Murphy has also said he is ready if the movie happens.
Still, the box office bloodbath makes the situation hard to ignore.
28 Years Later reportedly lost around $75 million after ending its run at roughly $150 million worldwide.
The Bone Temple then opened much lower, dropped hard, and quickly moved to digital and Netflix. That’s an even greater loss.
So while Boyle sounds hopeful, 28 Years Later Part 3 doesn’t sound like it’s guaranteed.
