28 Years Later Won’t Feature Cillian Murphy After All – But What About The Other Sequels? – SlashFilm Trending Global News

When last we checked in on Cillian Murphy’s return to Danny Boyle and Alex Garland’s rage-virus-fueled franchise, we were debunking the fan theory that the 2024 Academy Award winner will star as a zombie in “28 Years Later.” Had signed to appear in. Yes, the emaciated figure emerging from a field in the film’s first trailer bore little resemblance to the actor, but the undead character is actually portrayed by extremely thin actor Angus Neil.

This brought fans of the movies back to square one with their harmlessly wild speculations about how Murphy would re-appear as Jim in the long-awaited third installment in the series — the first time since 2007’s “28 Weeks Later.” For some, this came as a relief; Although it may be momentarily amusing to write Murphy as an out-of-universe zombie, Jim certainly deserves better. After all, we experienced the horror of “28 Days Later” through his WTF, induced coma to find himself in an apocalyptic perspective. If Jim is still alive after all these years, we’d like to see him alive. Whether living in this reality has sharpened his intellect or driven him completely insane is up to Boyle and Garland, but, damn, do right by this guy.

If you’re still concerned about Jim’s role in “28 Years Later,” I have… good news? At least, you can take comfort in knowing that Murphy won’t be playing a zombie this time around – at least, not yet.

According to a new Empire interview Along with “28 Years Later” creator Andrew MacDonald, Murphy will not be in “28 Years Later” at all, though he hopes to get Jim back into the franchise in the future. “He’s not in the first movie, but I hope there’s a gym in it somewhere,” he said. Whether that’s a future appearance in Nia DaCosta’s already-shot “28 Days Later: The Bone Temple,” which is scheduled to be released in 2026, or in the untitled capper to the proposed trilogy (which won’t move forward until Sony doesn’t weigh in on box office performance “after 28 years”), we’ll have to wait and see.

Fans are unsure whether Murphy will be in “28 Years Later”, despite the fact that he was never officially announced as a cast member and his credit on the poster is there was shortage, blame reddit and Sony chief Tom Rothman. After photos surfaced of Murphy wearing street clothes on the set of the sequel, fans began to spread rumors that Jim would appear again. Then Rothman told Deadline that Murphy will be in the film “but in a surprising way and in a way that’s moving.”

Is it possible that Macdonald is lying to hide a big surprise? Perhaps. You’ll never want to shoot dirty pool with your fanbase, but if Murphy’s involvement a shocking third act that worksThen go ahead and lie. If you deliver the goods then all is forgiven. Hopefully Boyle, Garland and, who knows, maybe Murphy will do the same when “28 Days Later” hits theaters on June 20, 2025.