28 Years Later stars explain why Dr Ian Kelson is the ‘most important’ character in the franchise

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple star Chi Lewis-Parry has explained why he believes Dr Ian Kelson is the 'most important' character in the franchise.

Nia DaCosta's addition to the iconic zombie-apocalypse films hits our screens on 14 January, with the sequel promising us a deeper look into how Ralph Fiennes' compassionate doctor has survived alone in the wilderness amidst the infected, as well as what happened next after Spike (Alfie Williams) crossed paths with Jack O'Connell's satanic, sadistic Jimmy Savile-inspired cult at the end of 28 Years Later.

The relationship between Lewis-Parry's Samson - the alpha-infected who went viral thanks to his, ahem, eye-catching appendage in Boyle's 2025 film - and Dr Kelson, with the pair's interactions being the most humane part of a world characterised by brute violence and survival of the fittest.

Samson actor Chi Lewis-Parry explains why he believes Dr Kelson is the 'most important' character in the franchise (Sony)

It's Kelson's humanity and empathy that make him stand out in comparison to the rest of the characters we meet in The Bone Temple and part of the reason why Lewis-Parry believes he is the 'most important' character in the franchise.

"Kelson is incredibly important to Samson," the actor and former MMA star said in an exclusive interview with LADbible.

"I think what Ralph has done and the character, the way it's been written by Alex Garland, suggests that he's arguably the most important person in this franchise, in this story, for sure.

"Without Kelson, some there is no Samson."

So why is Dr Kelson trying to build a relationship with an infected person who has a fondness for ripping people's heads clean off their shoulders?

According to Fiennes, it's a combination of isolation and curiosity.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple develops the relationship between Dr Kelson and Samson, as well as revisiting the sadistic, satanic Jimmy Savile cult (Sony)

"He's lonely. First of all, he has curiosity that Samson can communicate. And then when he learns Samson does, I think he wants a friend," the Harry Potter actor explained.

"If you look at his interactions with everybody from the first film and this film, he never rejects anyone," Lewis-Parry added. "No one is pushed out. He welcomes everybody, and fortunately, has been Samson's case as well."

"He is the most human person in this film," he continued. "I believe there's an innocence in Spike that also exists within Kelsen, because his openness to try things where most people would give up 'That's infected, get rid of it, kill it.' You know, that would be the general consensus. He says, 'No, I want to. I'm going to try something here'."

The iodine-slathered doctor's attempts appear to pay off as well, with the pair even dancing together, soundtracked to Duran Duran's 'Rio', at one point, proving that Kelson's actions may very well change everything we've ever known about the infected.

"I think the idea is that maybe within each infected person, there is the remnant of who they were," Fiennes mused.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is out in cinemas on 14 January.