23 years later, horror fans are finally getting the sequel they've been waiting for. Nevertheless, "28 Years Later" raises many questions – one in particular: Where is Cillian Murphy?
Since the first (famous) trailer for "28 Years Later," many questions have been lingering: How many installments will there be? What's it actually about? And where is Cillian Murphy's character, Jim, from the first installment?
"28 Days Later": Why is the horror film being continued 23 years later?
The year is 2002. Zombie movies have somewhat faded, and the shambling undead are rarely seen on cinema screens around the world anymore – and when they do, it's usually in cheap B-movies or trashy films. And then the British messiah, Danny Boyle, comes around the corner and tries to kill his protagonists in "28 Days Later."
Suddenly, the zombies were no longer meandering through the bushes, but could run—and not too slowly. This new approach to a zombie film, written by the then-young Alex Garland, struck a chord with audiences and spawned a sequel, "28 Weeks Later" (2007). But since then, the "28 XY Later" series has been relatively quiet until it was announced that Danny Boyle would return to the director's and/or producer's chair to give audiences three new zombie films. But former lead actor Cillian Murphy does not appear in "28 Years Later." Why?
"28 Years Later": Big Ambitions That Hopefully Pay Off
It has been known for some time that two more films will follow Danny Boyle's "28 Years Later." The second installment, Nia DaCosta's ("Candyman," 2021), "28 Years Later: The Bone Temple," will be released on January 15, 2026. According to Boyle's statement to IGN, the two films were shot back-to-back, while filming on the third installment is still pending. Nevertheless, it's clear that both the filmmakers and the studio have confidence in the films.
Nevertheless, Boyle notes: "We don't have the money for the third film yet. I guess that depends on how the first installment (28 Years Later) performs." But Danny Boyle confirms one thing: Cillian Murphy will appear in the films—and not just in the as-yet-unfunded third installment.
Cillian Murphy is back as Jim: Danny Boyle confirms return
Spoilers for a 23-year-old film, but Jim (Murphy), Hannah (Megan Burns), and Selena (Naiomi Harris) survived "28 Days Later" back then. After a zombie in the first teaser for "28 Years Later" bore a strong resemblance to Cillian Murphy, producer Andrew MacDonald had to clarify to "Entertainment Weekly" that this was not the Oscar winner.
But Cillian Murphy's Jim will not be returning in "28 Years Later" – Danny Boyle has already revealed that much. Instead, fans will have to wait a little longer, because according to Danny Boyle, Cillian Murphy will only be seen in a small role in "28 Years Later: The Bone Temple."
Boyle also reveals that Jim will appear in the third installment of the trilogy – but he is keeping quiet about the extent of this. One thing is clear: Since "The Bone Temple" has already wrapped, Cillian Murphy's scenes are already in the can. A bright spot for us, but probably more of an annoyance for Jim, who lives in a world full of the undead.
"28 Years Later": When will the sequel start?
There's not much longer to wait for the start of the new trilogy: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Alfie Williams, and Ralph Fiennes will have to face the undead in Germany starting June 19. And just under half a year later, on January 15, 2026, the franchise returns with "28 Years Later: The Bone Temple" – and with it, Cillian Murphy.
Source: IGN