28 Years On: Director of The Bone Temple Hints at Sequel’s Most “Horrifying” Scene Featuring Jack O’Connell as a Disturbing Cult Leader

Get ready, horror enthusiasts! The upcoming sequel, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, promises to be even more chilling than the original, largely due to Jack O’Connell’s unsettling portrayal of cult leader Jimmy Crystal and his band of followers, the Jimmys.

Director Nia DaCosta described the Jimmys as essentially satanic in nature, stating, “They believe in charity, which is what they call it, and cruelty, and it really is inhumane.” Taking the reins from Danny Boyle, DaCosta emphasizes the stark contrast between the cult and Ralph Fiennes’s Dr. Kelson, who embodies a more humanistic approach. “For me, the balance of those two things is super important,” she noted.

We got a brief introduction to the tracksuit-clad, blonde-wig-wearing Jimmys at the end of 28 Years Later, when they rescued Alfie Williams’ character, Spike, from a group of infected. However, it quickly became clear that Sir Jimmy Crystal is no savior. As he takes on a more prominent role in the sequel, it seems the villain and his crew are set to unleash some gruesome chaos, particularly in one shocking scene.

DaCosta highlighted a particularly horrifying barn scene, explaining, “It’s because you realize, wow, these people are disconnected from their beating heart, from their conscience, from, some would say, their souls. It’s because of the world they live in.” In contrast, Dr. Kelson represents a different path, existing in the same grim reality.

The latest trailer for The Bone Temple offers a glimpse of this chilling scene. After the Jimmys capture a group of survivors, they string them up and engage in unspeakable acts off-camera while Spike watches in terror. Are the Jimmys cannibals like the Terminus dwellers from The Walking Dead, who hang victims like livestock to drain and consume them? Or are they simply sadistic torturers? Only time will tell.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple hits theaters on January 16, 2026.