Who is Jimmy in 28 Years Later? 28 Years Later Ending Explained

The shocking final moments of 28 Years Later (released in June 2025) left audiences stunned—and full of questions. One of the biggest? Who is Jimmy, and how does his arrival change everything?

Let’s break down the ending of 28 Years Later and explore what it might mean for the next chapter, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, set for release on January 16, 2026.

Who is Jimmy in 28 Years Later? From Survivor to Cult Leader

In the film’s opening set during the early days of the Rage Virus outbreak, we see a terrified boy named Jimmy. He’s watching Teletubbies with his sisters while violence erupts outside their door. After his mother is attacked, she tells him to run—and he does. Jimmy runs to a church, where his father (a pastor) gives him a gold crucifix and declares the outbreak “God’s judgment.” He then willingly allows himself to be attacked.

Jimmy survives. But that trauma becomes his origin story.

Flash forward 28 years. Spike, a young boy orphaned by the infected, meets a mysterious man—adult Jimmy, now played chillingly by Jack O’Connell. With bleach-blond hair, gold chains, and a glittery tiara, Jimmy commands a group of lookalike followers… all also named Jimmy. His necklace still bears that same gold crucifix—now upside down.

Jimmy has become a dangerous cult leader, shaping the mainland in his image. His name appears throughout the movie—in graffiti, carved into bodies, and even in hanging corpses. It’s clear: Jimmy is more than a survivor—he’s a symbol of trauma twisted into power.

Teletubbies and Trauma: Symbolism in Jimmy’s World

Jimmy and his gang wear tracksuits in purple, green, red, and yellow—colors of the Teletubbies. His own is a dark purple, echoing Tinky Winky. A heavy rock remix of the Teletubbies theme plays during a brutal scene, signaling how Jimmy has memorialized his trauma and turned it into something dark.

He’s rebuilt the world of his childhood—but now it’s bloody, violent, and ruled by fear.

What’s Next in The Bone Temple?

The sequel, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, directed by Nia DaCosta, is already filmed and explores “the nature of evil,” according to director Danny Boyle. That seems to suggest Jimmy will play a major role—likely as an antagonist. He may clash with:

• Jamie (Spike’s father), who might return to find his son.

• Dr. Kelson (Ralph Fiennes), the strange scholar who builds monuments from bones.

• Isla, Spike’s adopted sister, whose origins may unlock deeper mysteries.

Boyle confirmed 28 Years Later focused on “family,” while The Bone Temple will examine what happens when that family bond is perverted or abused—exactly what Jimmy represents.

Final Thoughts

Jimmy’s transformation from frightened child to cult leader is one of the most disturbing elements of 28 Years Later. It also sets the stage for a darker, more psychological sequel—where the line between victim and villain is blurred.

As Spike enters Jimmy’s twisted world, viewers are left wondering: will he follow in Jimmy’s footsteps—or break the cycle?