Will Cillian Murphy appear in 28 Years Later? Explained
This year's big zombie extravaganza, 28 Years Later, is set to continue the story that began in 28 Days Later and was built upon in 28 Weeks Later. Directed by Danny Boyle and written by Alex Garland, the story here will pick up, as the title suggests, 28 years into the future after the first film's events and focus on a colony that has learned to live on a remote island during the apocalypse.
It was originally also reported when 28 Years Later went into development that actor Cillian Murphy would be returning in the role of Jim. The character first appeared in 28 Days Later, which was also one of the Oscar winner's earliest roles. However, producer Andrew Macdonald has confirmed that Murphy won't be in the upcoming film.
Talking to Empire Magazine, Macdonald revealed that Murphy isn't a part of the first film; rather, he is an executive producer and is working behind the scenes.
“[On] this, we wanted him to be involved and he wanted to be involved. He is not in the first film, but I’m hoping there will be some Jim somewhere along the line,” said Macdonald.
However, for now, Murphy is still reportedly slated to appear in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, which is set to release in 2026 and has already been shot as well. Nia DaCosta directs this movie.
28 Years Later, directed by Danny Boyle, is set to release in theaters on June 20, 2025.
What role does Cillian Murphy play in 28 Days Later?
In 28 Days Later, Cillian Murphy stars as Jim, a bicycle courier who wakes up from a coma only to find the world around him has gone to smithereens. Taking place in London, the original film follows Murphy as he tries to survive in a society where people have become rabid after a virus leaks out into the world. This virus turns people into the infected and they become aggressive.
Throughout his journey in the first film, Jim comes across many other characters such as Frank, Hannah, and Selena. Together, they try to survive the hordes of infected who come after them while also battling many who are not infected. By the end of the movie, Jim is one of the few survivors, alongside the others, and is living in a cottage in the countryside.
What is 28 Years Later about?
The upcoming 28 Years Later will focus on a group of people living on an island that's connected to the UK. It will follow a father and son who venture out of the island on a mission as they encounter something dark. The official synopsis reads:
"It’s been almost three decades since the rage virus escaped a biological weapons laboratory, and now, still in a ruthlessly enforced quarantine, some have found ways to exist amidst the infected. One such group of survivors lives on a small island connected to the mainland by a single, heavily-defended causeway. When one of the group leaves the island on a mission into the dark heart of the mainland, he discovers secrets, wonders, and horrors that have mutated not only the infected but other survivors as well."
The film stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer, Ralph Fiennes, and more.
For further updates, stay tuned with us.
