28 YEARS LATER Producer Reveals Whether Cillian Murphy Returns As Jim; Danny Boyle Will Direct Third Movie

28 YEARS LATER Producer Reveals Whether Cillian Murphy Returns As Jim; Danny Boyle Will Direct Third Movie

We finally have a definitive update on Cillian Murphy's 28 Years Later status, along with new details about this movie and Danny Boyle's plans to helm the planned third instalment (on one condition...).

By JoshWilding - Jan 10, 2025 09:01 AM EST
Filed Under: Horror
Source: Empire (via Fear HQ)

When the first trailer for 28 Years Later was unleashed, it's fair to say almost everyone convinced themselves into believing they'd spotted Cillian Murphy as one of the rage-infected zombies. 

That was later debunked, of course, but will we see Murphy's Jim in Danny Boyle's long-awaited follow-up to 28 Days Later and - the slightly less well-received - 28 Weeks Later? Unfortunately, it doesn't sound like this movie is going to mark an on-screen reunion for the actor and filmmaker. 

Producer Andrew Macdonald tells Empire Online (via FearHQ.com), "[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."

"He’s involved at the moment as an executive producer," Macdonald adds, "and I would hope we can work with him in some way in the future in the trilogy." That means he could appear in Nia DaCosta's already-shot sequel 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple or a third instalment which, according to the site, will be helmed by Boyle and hinges on the sequel's success.

"This is very narratively ambitious. Danny and I understood that," writer Alex Garland noted. "We tried to condense it, but its natural form felt like a trilogy."

Apparently, when 28 Years Later begins, the UK's survivors have been left to fend for themselves with the rest of the globe left relatively unaffected. The action takes place on Holy Island, a.k.a. Lindisfarne, an island connected to the UK mainland by a causeway that's only accessible when the tide comes in. 

Aaron Taylor-Johnson's Jamie, Jodi Comer's Isla, and their 12-year-old son Spike (played by Alfie Williams) will be the movie's leads. 

"It’s a closed and necessarily very tight community," Boyle revealed. "There are very strict defence laws, obviously, to survive that long in what is effectively an ongoing hostile environment. They’ve created a successful community, as they see it." However, when Spike is taken to see what's become of his home country, things - unsurprisingly - go badly wrong.

Back to Murphy and and Boyle admitted that he might have made a mistake including a zombie in the trailer who looks so similar to Jim. 

"I showed my girlfriend the trailer and she said, 'People will think that’s Cillian,'" the director recalled. "I said, 'Don’t be silly.' I ignored her. So I’ve eaten a bit of humble pie since."

28 Years Later arrives in theaters on June 20, 2025. You can check out a new look at Ralph Fiennes' survivor in the X post below.

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KennKathleen
KennKathleen - 1/10/2025, 9:14 AM
I was about to say "Chandler, ya gotta stop this 💩."

Josh, ya gotta stop this 💩.

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Conquistador
Conquistador - 1/10/2025, 9:16 AM
I'm looking forward to the movie, but i really am starting to dislike studios planning trilogies before the first one has even been seen to be appreciated or hated.

It is what it is i guess.
Apophis71
Apophis71 - 1/10/2025, 9:30 AM
@Conquistador - Double edged sword, if you have a story you feel needs a trilogy what do you do, make one that is completely self contained which may hinder that longer narrative (plus may be a weaker, less well recieved first film as as result) and make the next couple feel like milking the cow IF the first makes enough to greenlight them or do you intentionaly set them up (and pre-announce) as a three part story from the get go where the first is obviously a first act not it's own standalone thing.

In regard to this however, it is already the third film not the first so not exactly the same scenario as a completely new IP. Similar goes with Dune, they tried making a single standalone film of the first book and it is so lore heavy failed, badly (even if I still enjoyed it) so next time around set out from the start to split the same story into two films with the plan to follow up with a third film for what comes next (again differs from a new IP as was an established one with several original books and several times more canon to them by other authors).
Conquistador
Conquistador - 1/10/2025, 9:56 AM
@Apophis71 - Dune part one did not fail, and that is a prime example of how to do it.

It was never marketed as part 1. If you were blind to all the promotions and reviews you only found out after sitting down to watch the movie.

I enjoyed it too, but it's Box Office response was a casualty of the pandemic and WB choosing to release it on HBOMAX on the same day as cinemas.

I know it's not the first, but the last one was nearly 20 years ago.

If they're a good story teller they can make a self contained film, with an open ending that can lead into an even better sequel. That way the hype and interest can starts fresh for the next one rather than right before the first one was even shot.
Apophis71
Apophis71 - 1/10/2025, 3:05 PM
@Conquistador - The FIRST attempt at a Dune film DID fail in all measures that matter, but by that I meant the 1984 one that cost $40M to make and only made a total of $30M worldwide since release with (for what their scores or worth which isn't much) only 34% on RT.

The first film of the current franchise was always said to be part of a plan to make three prior to release even if it was not advertised heavily as such, many may have missed it that the second was already in production at time of release of the first with a third intended if greenlit after the reception of the first two (ie much like in this case) but it was ALWAYS planned to be one of three even if not announced loud enough it would be.

To add to the discussion therefore I would argue ensuring folk know the first film is a part one of a two part story (and possible third) is probably better than folk turning up thinking it is a self contained stand alone film and only at the end discover only half a book of a story told and will need to wait years for part two.

As I say however, it depends on the story your telling, a good story teller can make self contained films but some stories cannot easily if at all be told in just one part like that. The Lord of the Rings story in some ways is simple enough to be told in a single film but you'd have to miss out so much of the narrative to do so it simply wouldn't be worth making in all honesty. Flipside being Hobbit could very easily been a single films but was fluffed out way too much into multiple parts but that is a whole other story :D
Conquistador
Conquistador - 1/10/2025, 3:16 PM
@Apophis71 - LOTR was a different case though as that was based on books everyone knew about and had a much bigger fan base and was produced all at the same time as one project with one director.

Ok I wasn't thinking about the 84 version for good reason lol.

Dune part 2 was not greenlit until after Dune part one's release and reception though so you're wrong there. You're right that Denis intended to do part 2 because he knew it couldn't fit in one movie but he still was set with the idea to make one movie knowing there's was a possibility they couldn't go on if people didn't respond. So was set on promoting it as one movie not as a part one l as well part 2 wasn't greenlit or even shot. That's how it should be i think.
Apophis71
Apophis71 - 1/10/2025, 3:32 PM
@Conquistador - I heard they had already filmed a bunch for part two same time as one just hadn't done all of it till greenlit, but either way the point being the first was only half the book and thus pre-planned to be at minimum two (just didn't have a solid assurance he'd get the money to do so).

We are likely of similar minds (just differ slightly on how they are sold to the public) as the first film should feel like it completes a narrative, even if part of a larger arc, and probably both think you shouldn't finance two films till you know if the first will sell in most cases.

As this is starting at the third film however it is kind of a differing thing to a lot of cases of pre-setting up a trilogy when it is a completely new IP (or indeed when it is an adaption of the first book of a series of books).

There is also diffences depending on if your talking a HUGE budget or a modest one and these days I'd call $75M modest such that even if it turns out more a streaming thing than a big screen BO success...
Apophis71
Apophis71 - 1/10/2025, 3:41 PM
@Conquistador - Side note, if you ever get the chance you should visit Lindisfarne, beautiful island to visit and makes brilliant mead. Having been born and raised in Northumberland we visited a number of times and there is something about the place that no matter how much stress going on it is like life slows down and all your worries melt away whilst there (worth getting your timing of the tides wrong in fact and being stuck on it till next time they go out).
HashTagSwagg
HashTagSwagg - 1/10/2025, 9:17 AM
The kid and Kraven's pregnant lady who gives birth at some point will meet a hooded blue eyes white dragon by the end of the movie and at the beginning of the second film Kraven's lady will hand blue eyes the baby and he will toss it over the cliff like Mark Hamill tossed that lightsaber.
UncleHarm1
UncleHarm1 - 1/10/2025, 9:53 AM
@HashTagSwagg - Is "hooded blue eyes white dragon" some kind of yugioh euphemism for a penis?
HagridsHole1
HagridsHole1 - 1/10/2025, 9:57 AM
We've already seen him filming scenes for both the first film and the second...
DocSpock
DocSpock - 1/10/2025, 9:58 AM

Sometimes it's best to be drunk and not understand anything. I will go see the movie and hope it's good.

JayLemle
JayLemle - 1/10/2025, 11:00 AM
The creators managed to give us a new trilogy for a 20-something year old film. I think they can find some screentime for Cilian Murphy.

On a side note, I'm HOPING Nia's Part II will be good. While I thought The Marvel's was ok, I realized I got caught up in the DeCosta hype. The Marvels really is a miss. I don't want that bad magic crossing into Part II.
ThorArms
ThorArms - 1/10/2025, 1:04 PM
I mean there is literally set photos with Cillian in costume. So they either cut him out completely which makes zero sense, or he is in the 2nd one.
Neo3
Neo3 - 1/10/2025, 2:14 PM
Isn't title redundant?
"Danny Boyle Will Direct Third Movie"
bcom
bcom - 1/11/2025, 5:31 AM
@Neo3 - I was thinking the same thing. This is the third movie and Danny Boyle directed it.
MarvelZombie616
MarvelZombie616 - 1/10/2025, 3:27 PM
Horror movies don't cost mich and always make money.

The trailer looks great in theaters and was watched million of times.

Nia Da Costa fumbled Candyman, but the script was shit.
Danny Boyle and Alex Garlandare very good at what they do, so stfu about a Trilogie is too much, haters.
JayLemle
JayLemle - 1/10/2025, 3:34 PM
@MarvelZombie616 - a trilogy isn't too much at all. Especially for a series that's a generation-old now if you think about it. You are correct that this movie will make money. Not only us OG fans will be going to see it, but the new fans too.
bcom
bcom - 1/11/2025, 5:29 AM
I don’t quite understand this article. 28 Years Later is the third movie of the franchise and Danny Boyle is directing it.
marvel72
marvel72 - 1/11/2025, 11:12 AM
There is photos of him on set.

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