The 28 Years Later teenage star is one of Britain’s breakout actors for 2026. Returning for the franchise’s latest sequel, The Bone Temple, the 15-year-old talks Danny Boyle and apocalypse survival guides.
There’s plenty more to Alfie Williams’s 28 Years Later performance than shivers, screams, and running away from the infected. He may only be midway through his teens, but his summer 2025 breakout in director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland’s potent return to the renowned horror franchise presents an actor mature beyond his years. His portrayal as the brave, if naive, Spike is emotionally intelligent and richly complex, a boy coming-of-age and tackling the turbulence of young adulthood amid the backdrop of a post-apocalyptic dystopia.
Plucked from the northern hub of Newcastle upon Tyne, the now 15-year-old skyrocketed into mainstream attention with his prominent role alongside Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer and Ralph Fiennes. And 2026 looks even bigger: Williams returns this month – in cinemas on 16th January in the UK – for the latest entry into the series, The Bone Temple.
Garland once again pens the script, but there are changes elsewhere. Nia DaCosta, hot off the back of her critically well-received romantic drama Hedda, leads behind the lens, and there’s fresh blood in the cast, with Jack O’Connell set to take up a major role as a new-world Machiavellian, Sir Jimmy Crystal, while Fiennes will return as Dr Kelson. All-in-all, this follow-up seems set to be a very different film from its sombre, visually experimental predecessor.
With the hotly anticipated new sequel poised to accelerate his fame ever more quickly, Williams is undoubtedly one of the most prominent young stars coming out of Britain right now. He tells Man About Town about his wild ride so far, learning from his on-set ‘granddad’ Danny Boyle, and what he’d do in a zombie apocalypse.
Hey Alfie! You’ve been rocketed into the spotlight this year – how are you finding all the acclaim and attention?
People have said some really nice things about my performance in 28 Years Later, which is really amazing, but that’s not why I got into this job. I do it because I love acting, and if people like what I’m doing, hopefully I’ll get to do more of it.
How did you first find your love for acting?
My dad’s an actor too, so when I was younger, I wanted to do what he did. He has told me a lot of great techniques, from pauses to facial expressions, and he’s also my manager. He’s helped me all my life, and I’m thankful for that.
Has it always been your dream?
I think every kid watches TV and wants to be an action star or a superhero, and in this job, you have the chance to do it! That’s why I love it so much!
Talk us through how you were initially cast in the 28 Years Later trilogy?
I did a self-tape for it, and I got asked to come to an audition in front of Danny. It was crazy because every audition I’ve done before that I’ve had to go to London, but this one was where I live, so it was surprising. After multiple auditions, I finally got the part, so I’m forever grateful to Danny for allowing me to do what I love.
What was your favourite part of the filming process?
Any scenes where I’m running or in water. I love action scenes as they’re so much fun to shoot. However, I do enjoy scenes where I can play a vulnerable person, as I love complex characters!
Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Jodie Comer played your on-screen parents in the first film – how was it working with those two?
Absolutely great, they’re both fantastic actors and people, and I feel very lucky to have worked with them.
Danny Boyle is one of Britain’s most iconic directors – what were the key lessons you learnt from him?
I learned a lot from Danny. It was my first lead role in a film, so I didn’t know much, but he told me how to work with the light and to make sure I knew what the shot was before filming, and so much more.
How do you reflect on the reception of the first film?
I’m happy a lot of people enjoyed it. Some people didn’t because it was different, but they need to realise, like the virus, the films need to evolve as well, and once they understand that, they will enjoy these amazing films!
Were there any moments in filming when you were genuinely scared?
There wasn’t anything I was necessarily scared of, but there was a lot of tension, and I had a lot of adrenaline getting chased….and what was fun was if you got caught, they would call cut, so to keep the scene going, you couldn’t hold back. You had to sprint like you were there. The scene on the train when Spike gets chased by the alpha was the most tense moment in the film, in my opinion, that or the sea causeway scene, where we’re running back to the island.
Moving into Part Two, The Bone Temple, what can you tell us about the film? What can we expect?
Spike joins a gang of absolute psychopaths, led by Jack O’Connell’s character ‘Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal’. He learns it’s not just the infected he has to fear. He’s reverted back into this scared, lost boy and has to overcome humanity to survive.
What was the most valuable thing about working with Nia?
I enjoyed seeing the mix of styles of these two fantastic directors and how each of them approached things differently. Nia was amazing to work with in between takes when we had time. We would talk about video games. She’s a gamer just like me.
Besides the 28 Years Later trilogy, what can you tell us about other upcoming roles?
I’m currently working on a movie called Banquet, starring alongside the brilliant Meghann Fahy and Corey Mylchreest. It’s directed by the amazing Galder Gaztelu-Urrutia, who directed The Platform. I can’t say much about my character yet, but it’s a supernatural thriller that’s been really fun to be part of so far.
Have you got a dream character you’d love to convey?
My dream role would be to play Isaac Clarke from Dead Space in a live-action movie. I’m a huge fan of the game series and would love to do it if they ever developed that. I would also love to play Billy the Kid in a Young Guns remake or a new one, as it’s one of my favourite films. Gotta love the 80s classics!
Lastly, if a zombie apocalypse actually happened, what’s the first thing that you’d do?
Although going to Holy Island is a smart move – as in the first 28 Years Later film – on the way, I would have to loot a hardware store and get weapons to defend myself. I have no idea how long I’d survive; it would depend on the zombies, whether they’re fast or slow. I would mainly stick to the roofs of buildings. Staying on the ground is too risky!
Photography
Lee Malone
