From the moment the first trailer for 28 Years Later came out, Cillian Murphy’s role (or lack thereof) has been one of the biggest talking points for the new film.
Murphy starred in the original 2002 28 Days Later directed by Danny Boyle, and since then has gone on to become one of the biggest film stars in the world.
Between Oppenheimer and Peaky Blinders, he has starred in some of the world’s biggest projects, and fans thought he was back after the release of the first trailer for the sequel film.
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Despite fans understandably thinking that it was a zombified Cillian Murphy back for the sequel, it was quickly debunked – albeit with the news later that he was set to return as Jim at some point in the upcoming slated set of three 28 Years Later films.
The marketing for 28 Years Later has been incredibly inventive, with a number of hints to the plot uploaded on a secret website that required a password accessible via a secret cypher.
Despite this, many fans’ interest will hinge around whether or not Murphy’s character Jim is set to appear or not.
Danny Boyle has now however confirmed the part he is set to play – and his role is at risk.
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Speaking in a recent interview with IGN, he has outlined the plan for Murphy’s return and why we may end up seeing very little of the actor.
Boyle said: “Well, it's three films, a trilogy of films which have connecting characters.”
The director said that Spike, played by 12-year-old Alfie Williams in 28 Years Later, will play a key role in connecting the films, adding that ‘he will run right way through the films’.
Boyle said: “We've shot the first two back-to-back, and that was for logistical reasons, actor availability reasons, and for story reasons as well. They're literally continuous.”
The second film, 28 Years Later II: The Bone Temple, has been shot by Nia DaCosta rather than Boyle, but will be a direct continuation of his upcoming film starring Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Alfie Williams, Ralph Fiennes, and Jack O’Connell.
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Boyle went on to say: “There's a coda... it's not a coda, it's the epilogue or an end theme at the end of [28 Years Later] that gives you a handover to the second film.
“Although each story completes itself, there's a handover section to the next film as well. So it's very ambitious.
“We haven't got the money for the third one yet. It will depend how the first one does, I guess.
“But hopefully if we do ok, they'll give us the go-ahead for the money and for the third one. Everybody's standing by for that, really. Including Cillian.”
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With the film just a few weeks away from releasing, all signs point to the fact that fans showing up and watching 28 Years Later in cinemas will be a major factor in whether we get Cillian Murphy back as Jim for a proper film.
28 Years Later releases in cinemas June 20, 2025.
Topics: 28 Years Later, Cillian Murphy, Horror, Film, TV and Film
Michael Slavin