Samson Is Back — The “Naked Nightmare” from 28 Years Later Returns in The Bone Temple (Jan 16, 2026)
The upcoming sequel 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple confirms that Samson — the naked, near-silent infected played by Chi Lewis-Parry — will be back, and the film also brings back the gang known as The Jimmies. New details come from a Rolling Stone preview and other coverage, and the movie is set to open in January 2026.
Samson’s return
Chi Lewis-Parry will reprise his role as Samson, the largely nonverbal infected who drew major attention in the previous film. Previously, Samson spoke only in grunts and screams and was shown running through scenes without clothing while violently attacking people. For context, a GQ piece detailed Lewis-Parry’s performance and the character’s impact.
According to a new preview, Samson appears in promotional images with his groin covered for now, and director Nia DaCosta says the relationship between Samson and Dr. Kelson remains important. “We’ve seen Samson ripping people’s heads off,” DaCosta said. “But Kelson’s a kook, and he’s doing what he wants to do.”
The Jimmies and Sir Jimmy Crystal
The previous film ended by introducing Sir Jimmy Crystal, played by Jack O’Connell, and his gang, The Jimmies. When they first appeared, the group rescued the young protagonist Spike by dismembering infected attackers. Rolling Stone’s preview confirms The Jimmies will play a major role in The Bone Temple and will intersect with Dr. Kelson’s storyline.
O’Connell described the follow-up as a “weird, deranged cousin to 28 Years Later, who you might be a bit ashamed of because they have weird, questionable interests.” The preview says the gang is on a collision course with Kelson and possibly Samson.
Release date and tone
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is scheduled to open in theaters on January 16, 2026. Rolling Stone’s preview notes director Nia DaCosta and the cast aim to keep an off-kilter energy while continuing the franchise’s focus on human behavior and violence.
For the full preview and the image mentioned above, see the Rolling Stone first look.
