The Bone Temple and 28 Days Later Timeline Unveiled

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple has arrived in theaters, continuing the acclaimed zombie movie franchise created by Danny Boyle and Alex Garland. This latest installment takes place almost immediately after the events of 28 Years Later, following Spike (Alfie Williams) as he finds himself trapped with cult leader Sir Jimmy Crystal (Jack O’Connell) and his fanatical followers. For fans eager to explore the deeper layers of the timeline, there is much to uncover.

The 28 Days Later Timeline Explained

The 28 Days Later franchise does not explicitly state the year in which its films take place. Instead, the timeline is defined by the titular periods—28 Days, 28 Weeks, and 28 Years. However, several clues suggest possible dates for each film.

What Year Is 28 Days Later Set?

In 28 Days Later, the UK is overrun by a highly contagious Rage Virus that spreads rapidly after animal activists release an infected chimpanzee. Jim (Cillian Murphy), one of the few uninfected individuals, wakes up from a coma 28 days later to find London deserted. During his exploration, he encounters a newspaper that mentions Prime Minister Tony Blair declaring a state of emergency. This places the events of the film during Blair’s tenure at Number 10, which lasted from 1997 to 2007.

Some fans speculate that the movie takes place in 2002, the year the film was originally released. If this is true, then 28 Weeks Later would be set in 2003, and 28 Years Later would take place in 2030. The events of The Bone Temple, which occur immediately after 28 Years Later, would also fall in 2030.

Another theory, proposed by Reddit users, suggests that 28 Years Later is set in 2025, matching its release date. This theory is based on a scene featuring a Happy Eater restaurant, a chain that closed in 1996. If the restaurant still exists in 2025, it implies that 28 Days Later could have taken place in 1997, allowing 28 Years Later to be set in 2025.

However, this theory faces challenges. In 28 Weeks Later, scenes are set in Wembley Stadium, which opened in March 2007. This would mean that 28 Days Later must have taken place in 2007, and 28 Weeks Later would be set between mid-2007 and 2008. Consequently, 28 Years Later would likely take place in 2035.

Addressing the Timeline Inconsistencies

While these theories highlight some discrepancies, many fans believe they are minor and do not significantly impact the overall plot. It’s worth noting that Boyle and Garland were only involved as executive producers for 28 Weeks Later, and 28 Years Later largely ignored the events of the previous film.

The ending of 28 Weeks Later introduced a twist where the Rage Virus spread to Europe. However, 28 Years Later reimagines this by stating that the virus was driven back from mainland Europe. In an interview with Collider, Boyle explained, "There’s nothing wrong with 28 Weeks Later. We just decided not to follow those story elements. And it’s a bold choice we decided to declare up front by saying the Rage Virus was driven back from mainland Europe."

Given this, audiences are free to interpret the timeline as they see fit. The only concrete clue from the original film is Blair’s tenure as Prime Minister, leaving room for multiple interpretations of the timeline.

Where to Watch the Franchise

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is now playing in UK cinemas.

For those interested in watching the earlier films, 28 Days Later is available to stream on BBC iPlayer, Prime Video, Sky Cinema, and NOW. 28 Weeks Later can be found on Disney+ and Prime Video.