Bone Temple director on what’s going to happen after massive cliffhanger at end of 28 Years Later sequel

Nia DaCosta, the director of 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, has given additional context to what will happen next after the shocking cliffhanger at the end of the film.

The sequel to 28 Years Later, itself a continuation of the 28 Days Later films, continues the story of Spike and Dr Kelson nearly three decades on from the outbreak.

The film has been one of the most well-received of the entire four-film series, sitting at 7.8 on IMDb and a series-leading 93 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes, but the final film in the 28 Years Later trilogy has yet to be officially greenlit.

Despite this, The Bone Temple’s success means it is almost certain to go ahead, with Cillian Murphy reportedly up for returning as Jim almost 25 years on from 28 Days Later. Fans, though, will be raring for a third film in light of the major cliffhangers The Bone Temple leaves behind.

Spoiler warning for 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple.

Samson in The Bone Temple shows signs of intelligence and that he might be cureable (Sony)

What is going to happen to Samson after Dr Kelson’s death?

Throughout the film, Dr Kelson tries anti-psychosis medication on Samson to see if this would treat the rage virus that turned him into a bloodthirsty brain-eating zombie.

Late in the film, signs appear to be showing that this is partially successful, with Samson showing lucidity and even having to fight off other infected who attack him.

Kelson, however, dies before completing his treatment, with Samson picking up his newly found friend’s body and carrying him away, not before thanking him.

Speaking about Samson in a new interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Da Costa revealed she had been speaking with writer Alex Garland about it.

She said that whilst she doesn’t want to say anything which could later be retconned, she was fairly certain she could say that ‘he’s not fully cured, and the level that he is healed is permanent’.

She added: “He’s not what he was [at the start of the movie], but is he one of us? I don’t know. But he’s not what he was.”

Cillian Murphy is back as Jim (Sony)

Is Cillian Murphy coming back as Jim for a third 28 Years Later film and what happened to Naomi Harris’ Selena?

In the film's final scene, Cillian Murphy’s Jim teaches a young girl, Sam, history, and the pair eventually see Spike and Jimmy Ink running away from the infected, and decide to help them.

Naomi Harris’ Selena and Hannah, played by Megan Burns, are not present from the end of 28 Days Later, despite it being the same cottage they all escape to.

DaCosta kept quite tight-lipped about this, confirming that Sam was indeed Jim’s daughter but saying that ‘all those other questions will be answered in the next film’.

Danny Boyle has previously confirmed that if the third film is green-lit, Murphy will play a large role, similarly to how Jack O’Connell’s Sir Jimmy Crystal was introduced in the 28 Days Later post-credits scene.

Hoping to see a returning Imogen Poots? Too bad, she got nuked (Sony)

DaCosta gave another major update on other characters in the franchise, though, stating that Andy and Tammy from 28 Weeks Later are dead.

Asked about potentially working with Imogen Poots, who starred in DaCosta’s Hedda, the director said: “I’m pretty sure her character is super dead… I think Paris is nuked.”

This marks terrible news for the four people who were big fans of 28 Weeks Later, but if it means getting Jim back for a third 28 Years Later film, it’s a sacrifice many of us would be happy to make.