Nia DaCosta on Shaping 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
Director Nia DaCosta opens up about her creative process for '28 Years Later: The Bone Temple,' revealing how she crafted a distinct vision for the horror sequel with the support of producers Danny Boyle and Alex Garland.
When it comes to wild moments in the 28 Years Later franchise, few scenes top the finale with Jack O'Connell's Jimmys flipping and slicing their way through a horde of infected. But in the follow-up, The Bone Temple, the Jimmys return in a much darker, more menacing form—this time, there’s not a single acrobatic stunt in sight. Director Nia DaCosta, who helms the second chapter in the trilogy, sat down in London last November to talk about her approach to the sequel and how she made it her own.
Written once again by Alex Garland, The Bone Temple picks up right after the chaotic ending of 28 Years Later. The story follows Spike as he endures a harsh initiation into the Jimmys’ death cult before setting out on a journey with Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal and his seven fingers. DaCosta explained,
“[The Jimmys] are mostly in my film. They weren't in the first script as much, actually, in the first draft, and then they were built in a bit more for that last scene,”
she said.
“But it was funny because Danny [Boyle] and I would be like casting, and he'd be like, 'Oh, I want people who are really physical, like backflips.' And I was like, 'Why?!' I knew I wasn't going to be needing any of that [in The Bone Temple]. And then I saw it and said, 'Oh my gosh, I love it.'”
Building a New Tone
While several familiar faces return—Spike (Alfie Williams), Dr. Kelson (Ralph Fiennes), and Alpha Samson (Chi Lewis-Parry)—the Jimmys take center stage in a story that’s all about the battle between good and evil. DaCosta’s vision for The Bone Temple is rooted in themes of fear and faith, setting it apart from the grief-driven narrative of its predecessor.
She shared,
“The two scripts were quite different and had different characters. So I felt like there was a lot of liberty, actually, to make something that felt unique. The first thing I said when I met with the producers, including Danny and Alex, was: 'I love this, but if you're looking for like a Danny Boyle-ish film, I'm not the right person; I don't know how to do that. He's an idiosyncratic genius, and I'm not Danny Boyle. But here's what I see and here's what I'd like to do, and if that's what you're into, then great.' And then they were into it, and so really I had the freedom to make the movie as I saw it.”
Creative Freedom and Distinct Vision
DaCosta’s approach was all about carving out her own space within the franchise. She was clear from the start that she didn’t want to simply mimic Boyle’s style, and the producers were on board with her unique take. This creative freedom allowed her to shape The Bone Temple into a film that stands on its own, even as it continues the story and brings back key characters.
After witnessing the Jimmys’ wild acrobatics in the previous film, DaCosta was asked if she ever considered adding similar stunts to her sequel. Her answer was direct:
“Absolutely not. No, no, no,”
she laughed.
“There's no slow-mo backflips to metal music.”