• iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Cillian Murphy's true role in 28 Years Later is at risk and fans can help decide it

Home> Entertainment> Film

Published 18:42 9 Jun 2025 GMT+1

Cillian Murphy's true role in 28 Years Later is at risk and fans can help decide it

Cillian Murphy's role in 28 Years Later has been revealed - and it may require fans to save it

Michael Slavin

Michael Slavin

Featured Image Credit: Searchlight Studios

Topics: 28 Years Later, Cillian Murphy, Horror, Film, TV and Film

Michael Slavin
Michael Slavin

Michael Slavin is LADbible's dedicated specialist Film and TV writer. Following his completion of a Masters in International Journalism at Salford University, he began working for the Warrington Guardian as a reporter. Throughout this he did freelance work about Entertainment for publications such as DiscussingFilm, where he was the Film and TV editor. Now, he is LAD's go to voice on all things Netflix, True Crime, and UK TV, as well as interviewing huge global stars such as Jake Gyllenhaal, Daisy Ridley, and Ben Stiller.

X

@michaelslavin98

Advert

Advert

Advert

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.

Advert

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 zombie many (LADbible included) were sure was Cillian Murphy after the first trailer (Sony)
The zombie many (LADbible included) were sure was Cillian Murphy after the first trailer (Sony)

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.

Advert

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.”

Advert

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.

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.

28 Years Later
28 Years Later

“We haven't got the money for the third one yet. It will depend how the first one does, I guess.

Advert

“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.”

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.

  • Interesting theory emerges about Cillian Murphy's return in 28 Years Later following clue in trailer
  • Why new 28 Days Later sequel is 28 Years Later rather than Months
  • Secret 28 Years Later website gives biggest hint yet to huge question left unanswered for two decades
  • New 28 Years Later trailer drops

Choose your content:

8 hours ago
10 hours ago
  • 8 hours ago

    Antiques Roadshow guest told jacket is worth £200,000 after it was worn by one of world's most famous men

    The jacket was given a six-figure valuation by an expert

    Entertainment
  • 8 hours ago

    Reason why Netflix introduced ‘diabolical’ new update as fans threaten to cancel subscriptions

    The people have spoken... and they don't like change

    Entertainment
  • 10 hours ago

    Stifler actor revealed major effects American Pie character had on him after revealing comeback stance

    The actor has had a new film added to Netflix and it will be sure to have people wondering if he'll come back as Stifler

    Entertainment
  • 10 hours ago

    Sabrina Carpenter defends her image after X-rated album cover faces major backlash

    The singer's reliance on retro aesthetics and raunchy lyrics has proven controversial

    Entertainment