*Courtesy of Presley Ann/Getty Images for SeeHer.*

Danny Boyle’s long-held hopes for another entry in the ‘28 Years Later’ franchise are finally materializing, as Sony is officially moving ahead with a third film. Cillian Murphy, who launched the series over two decades ago with ‘28 Days Later,’ is currently in talks to return. Alex Garland, who wrote the earlier films (with the exception of ‘28 Weeks Later’), is back on script duties.

Boyle has previously said he would direct a third installment if it ever happened, though Sony declined to comment on the development.

The first ‘28 Years Later,’ released in January, earned $151.3 million—a solid figure, though not one that guaranteed a continuation. Still, Sony maintained from the start that further sequels were the goal.

Sony secured the rights to the ‘28 Years Later’ trilogy in January 2024 after a competitive bidding war. Although Boyle pushed for a three-film commitment, the studio initially greenlit only two, which were filmed consecutively. Boyle directed the first installment, released in January, while Nia DaCosta took the helm for the upcoming ‘28 Years Later: The Bone Temple,’ arriving Jan. 16. News of the third film moving forward follows early screenings of ‘The Bone Temple,’ which have drawn strong reactions. The movie stars Ralph Fiennes and Jack O’Connell.

Murphy, whose profile has skyrocketed since ‘28 Days Later’—including winning an Oscar for 2023’s ‘Oppenheimer’—will make a small appearance in ‘The Bone Temple.’ His return in the third ‘28 Years Later’ film is expected to provide a significant marketing boost.

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