Just when we thought the trilogy capper might be in danger of not happening, Alfie Williams has — purposely?— reignited speculation that a third “28 Years Later” film may still be moving forward, despite months of uncertainty surrounding the franchise’s future.
The new speculation comes from Williams’ Instagram, where he posted a photo showing him practicing archery alongside the caption, “It’s great to be back!”
However, what’s true is that the caption does not explicitly confirm production, though some believe the wording strongly hints that Williams has resumed training for another return to Danny Boyle and Alex Garland’s final chapter. Then again, it could simply be Williams having fun with fans, especially since he previously kept arrows from the set and was gifted a bow by a local archery venue, making it entirely possible he has taken up archery as a hobby.
The timing of this latest update comes after “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” earned strong reviews but faltered at the box office. Director Nia DaCosta recently admitted she was “disappointed” by its performance, while Sony Pictures Entertainment has remained silent about the planned trilogy capper from Boyle and Garland. Furthermore, ‘The Bone Temple’ has reportedly struggled to gain traction on streaming, including a weak debut on Netflix, even as some fans continue to defend it as one of the franchise’s strongest entries with potential cult status.
Would Sony, which reportedly lost around $20M on ‘The Bone Temple,’ actually go ahead with a third film? Internally, there has clearly been hesitation, but the return of original 2002 star Cillian Murphy — which is understood to be part of the plan — could be enough to convince Sony that third time might be the charm, and that the franchise still has a chance at a more lucrative final instalment.
Even so, there is reason for skepticism. Despite strong critical reception, the first two films didn’t connect broadly enough with general audiences. More importantly, they may have alienated some of the core horror fanbase by shifting away from fast-paced zombie horror toward a more bleak, existential tone. The question now is whether Murphy’s return alone is enough to bring those viewers back, or whether the series has already drifted too far from them.
For now, there is still no official announcement confirming that the final instalment is on, so the theory, which is basically seiven by Williams’ Instagram post, remains speculation rather than fact. Until Sony says otherwise, audiences are left reading between the lines.
A June 25, 2027 release date has been set for “Oceans.” This will be Cooper’s fourth directorial effort after “A Star Is Born,” “Maestro,” and “Is This Thing On?”