Bahraini-Scottish actor Ghazi Al Ruffai’s latest film, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, is out in cinemas today.
The sequel to the 2025 blockbuster 28 Years Later delves into a cult of abandoned youth trying to find purpose in a desolate world.
The St Christopher’s School alumnus plays the role of Jimmy Snake, who is forced into the cult for his own protection.
“Jimmy Snake isn’t your typical villain,” the former Riffa resident told GulfWeekly. “As he is forced into the cult, he is in constant internal turmoil, committing gory, horrendous acts purely as a means of survival,” the 25-year-old added.
Set after the events of the previous film, the story follows Spike as he is inducted into Sir Jimmy Crystal’s gang of acrobatic killers in a post-apocalyptic Britain ravaged by the Rage Virus. Meanwhile, Dr Ian Kelson embarks on a new relationship with potentially world-changing consequences.
Other films in the series are 28 Weeks Later (2007) and 28 Days Later (2002), with a sequel to The Bone Temple currently in development.
“I just got back from the cast and crew screening, and I am genuinely in awe of how everything has come together. The movie blends an exploration of the human condition with horror in such a vivid, captivating way,” explained the London-based creative.
Ghazi first appeared in the franchise during the cliffhanger ending of 28 Years Later, and the latest release marks his second stint in the series.
“It is a total honour to be part of something this special. The series completely changed the horror genre, and being part of that cinematic universe, alongside the likes of icons like Cillian Murphy and Ralph Fiennes, still does not feel real,” he said.
“Our director, Nia DaCosta, was just phenomenal and working with her was such a blast. She is truly a visionary and cultivated such a safe, supportive space on set that allowed us to fully express ourselves and explore our characters to the maximum.
“Naturally, the cast all grew super close, and that connection really helped us bring this tight-knit cult to life. We were filming in forests in the UK during early mornings in autumn, which meant freezing cold, torrential rain. It was brutal. But honestly, it just raised the stakes and made everything feel even more real,” revealed the thespian, who has trained at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama and the Guildford School of Acting.
After graduating school, Ghazi moved to the UK in 2018 to pursue acting professionally. While he always had the ‘acting bug’ in him, his years exploring drama in an academic setting at St Christopher’s School helped him take acting more seriously.
His past projects include Layla (2024), and the docudrama Lockerbie: A Search for Truth (2025), in which he portrayed Khaled Megrahi.
The content creator, who has a dedicated following of more than 200,000, is passionate about using his platform to challenge stereotypes and spotlight under-represented voices in the industry.
“I was able to draw on my Scottish heritage for the role and really bring that part of myself to life. So, naturally, I’d love for my next role to be one that honours my Bahraini heritage and gives me a chance to flex my Arabic – I have been practicing,” he said, speaking of his goals for the new year.
