Danny Boyle Confirms How Cillian Murphy Will Return in the ‘28 Years Later’ Trilogy

Warning: spoilers ahead for ‘28 Years Later’

Cillian Murphy is coming back to the world of 28 Days Later. The Oppenheimer actor, who starred as Jim in Danny Boyle’s 2002 breakout horror hit, has been confirmed to return for the upcoming 28 Years Later trilogy. Although he does not appear in the main story of the 2025 film, 28 Years Later, Murphy is closely involved behind the scenes as an executive producer. And, according to Boyle, the best is yet to come.

Speaking to Screen Rant’s Liam Crowley, Boyle confirmed that Murphy will reappear at the very end of the upcoming sequel, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, directed by Nia DaCosta and written by Alex Garland. “Yeah, I have admitted this under pressure,” Boyle said. “I’ve obviously seen a rough cut of Nia DaCosta’s film of The Bone Temple and he’s introduced beautifully at the coda of that film.”

Boyle elaborated that Murphy’s late appearance sets the tone for the trilogy’s third act. “That obviously leads you in the way that you’ll probably realize that Jimmy is going to be a huge part of the second movie having been introduced at the end of the first movie. Likewise, Cillian will be a huge part of the third movie having been introduced in what is, in effect, a coda to the second movie. A very surprising one nonetheless.”

Murphy’s return looks to follow the model used for Jimmy (played by Jack O’Connell) in 28 Years Later, who is revealed in the final minutes to have survived the original outbreak and become a cult leader of sorts. Based on Boyle’s comments, The Bone Temple looks to shift focus onto Jimmy’s storyline, while Murphy’s Jim will step fully back into the spotlight in the third installment. Boyle has stated in other interviews that Cillian will play a large part in the planned third film, although he told IGN that financing for that depends on 28 Years Later performance at the box office.

Whether or not it gets greenlit is still up in the air but with a $60 million dollar opening weekend at the global box office the groundwork is clearly being laid for the franchises full resurgence, with Murphy’s return as the series anchor, looking promising.

28 Years Later is now playing in theaters worldwide, you can read our 4.5 star review here.

FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook Instagram Twitter(X) YouTube TikTok