Cillian Murphy Returns: 5 Burning Questions for the Next 28 Years L...

The fourth installment in the 28 Days Later franchise, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, delivers a memorable finale that sets the stage for a highly anticipated sequel. Directed by Nia DaCosta and written by series creator Alex Garland, the film picks up immediately after the events of its predecessor.

The story culminates in a deadly confrontation between Ralph Fiennes' Dr. Ian Kelson and Jack O'Connell's Jimmy Crystal. While Ian honors the dead through his intimidating Bone Temple, Jimmy embraces violence, claiming to be the son of the Devil. The film's coda features a stunning cameo that changes the entire landscape of the post-apocalyptic Britain, leaving audiences with several critical questions for the next chapter.

The film builds to a tense face-off between Dr. Ian Kelson and Jimmy Crystal. Both men have reacted to life in a post-apocalyptic Britain decimated by the rage virus in extreme ways. Ian attempts to honor the dead with his Bone Temple, while Jimmy embraces madness and violence, declaring himself the son of the Devil.

Jimmy forces his followers to take on his name, creating a cult-like following. When Ian sees Spike, the boy he befriended in the previous movie, forced to join Jimmy, he attempts to intervene. This leads to a deadly series of events:

• Ian is fatally stabbed by Jimmy.
• Jimmy is turned on by Spike and "Jimmy Ink" (Kelly).
• Spike stabs Jimmy in revenge.
• Jimmy is left crucified on the Bone Temple.

The final shot from Jimmy's POV shows a rage-infected lunging at him, leaving his fate ambiguous. The film ends with a coda showing Spike and Kelly being watched by a father and daughter who prepare to help them.

The father watching Spike and Kelly is revealed to be Jim, played by Cillian Murphy in his first return to the franchise since the 2002 original. Danny Boyle, director of the first and third films, confirmed months ago that Murphy's cameo sets up Jim's return in a major way for the next installment.

Jim is seen with his daughter, Sam, living within quarantined Britain. This raises immediate questions about his journey since the original film's hopeful ending. The final line of dialogue in The Bone Temple sees Jim replying, "Of course we do," when his daughter asks if they should help Spike and Kelly. This indicates he has maintained his heroic nature, stepping in to assist others throughout the decades.

"Of course we do."

The distinction between the hero Jim and the villain Jimmy adds a layer of irony to the franchise's naming conventions.

Jim's current life in The Bone Temple only shows him living with his daughter, Sam. This absence raises questions about the fate of Selena and Hannah, the other survivors from the 2002 film. Selena, played by Naomie Harris, was last seen with Jim and Hannah at the end of 28 Days Later.

Given the dangerous world these characters inhabit, it is easy to presume both women died tragically in the decades since. However, the film provides only a quick look at Jim's current life, leaving room for other possibilities. They could simply be out hunting or finding supplies during the final scene. The film does not explicitly state their fate, keeping the door open for their return or a definitive explanation in the sequel.

The final scene of The Bone Temple confirms Jim and his daughter are still living a guarded life within quarantined Britain. This contradicts the assumption that Jim's group was rescued after the original film's ending, where they unfurled a giant "HELLO" banner as a plane flew overhead.

28 Weeks Later established that a widespread rescue and rebuilding attempt was made following the initial outbreak. This made it easy to assume Jim's group would have been brought to safety. However, their continued presence in Britain suggests several possibilities:

• The plane did not see the banner.
• The rescuers saw the banner but chose not to help.
• Jim was rescued but became trapped again during the events of 28 Weeks Later.

It has been so long that one must wonder if Jim ever joined a larger group again or stuck to those he was already close to.

The next film in the 28 Days Later franchise is already in the works, promising to explore the lingering mysteries of this universe. The return of Cillian Murphy signals a major shift in the narrative, potentially bridging the gap between the original film and the current timeline.

With Jimmy Crystal's fate left hanging—literally—and the introduction of new characters like Sam and Kelly, the sequel has ample material to explore. The dynamic between the older, weathered Jim and the younger survivors will likely be a central focus. As the rage virus continues to evolve and threaten the remnants of humanity, the question of rescue and survival remains paramount.

The franchise has consistently explored how different individuals cope with trauma and loss. The next installment will likely continue this theme, examining how Jim has survived for 28 years and what his return means for the future of the remaining survivors.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple successfully sets up a compelling sequel with the return of Cillian Murphy as Jim. The film's climax leaves the villain Jimmy Crystal in a precarious position, while introducing new dynamics with Spike and Kelly.

The biggest questions for the next film revolve around the fate of original characters Selena and Hannah, and the circumstances of Jim's survival over the past 28 years. As the franchise continues, it will explore whether true rescue is possible in a world forever changed by the rage virus.

The next installment promises to answer these lingering questions while introducing new threats and alliances in this unforgiving post-apocalyptic landscape.