Ralph Fiennes Reflects on Dr. Kelson’s Epic Clash with Jimmy Crystal in The Bone Temple After 28 Years: “It’s a Battle of Good and Evil.”

In the realm of surprises within *28 Years Later*, one of the most unexpected twists is Ralph Fiennes’ iodine-soaked, bone-chilling character, Dr. Kelson, emerging as the film’s emotional core. However, in the upcoming sequel, *The Bone Temple*, Dr. Kelson’s moral compass will face a formidable adversary in Jack O’Connell’s psychopathic Jimmy Crystal.

Continuing the journey of Alfie Williams’ Spike, who experiences a bizarre rescue/capture by the Jimmys at the end of *28 Years…*, *The Bone Temple* delves into Spike’s harrowing experiences among the Jimmys, paralleling Dr. Kelson’s unsettling experiments on Alpha-infected Samson (Chi Lewis-Parry). As these two narratives intertwine, a classic clash of good versus evil unfolds.

“It’s that age-old, primal struggle,” Fiennes shares during a chat in London. “Kelson is fundamentally a good man. He’s a doctor without any psychological twists. He’s eccentric and has come to terms with death, but Jimmy is… well, it becomes evident early on that he exhibits deep psychopathic traits. Often, such disturbed individuals are driven by childhood trauma that leads to sadistic behavior. But yes, he’s definitely a nut job!”

The film’s striking poster hints at one of *The Bone Temple*’s most unexpected moments—a ritualistic dance set to a thunderous Iron Maiden track. “That was fantastic,” Fiennes recalls. “We put a lot of effort into choreographing it with Shelley Maxwell, the choreographer, and Nia DaCosta, the director. I even got in shape for it. That Iron Maiden track was incredible… it really motivated me with its amazing energy.”

As for whether Dr. Kelson, Jimmy Crystal, Spike, and others will return in the recently announced third installment of the *28 Years Later* trilogy, that remains uncertain. However, we do know that Cillian Murphy’s Jim will be back, a detail revealed by Danny Boyle last year. Director Nia DaCosta also mentioned that there will be no backflipping in this intense new film.

*28 Years Later: The Bone Temple* hits US theaters on January 15 and UK cinemas on January 13.