While Cillian Murphy is involved in the new 28 Days Later sequel trilogy, horror fans shouldn’t expect him to reprise his role as Jim—at least not in the first film.
Producer Andrew Macdonald recently confirmed in an interview with Empire that Murphy will not appear in 28 Years Later, but he remains hopeful that the actor will return in some capacity later in the series. “He is not in the first film, but I’m hoping there will be some Jim somewhere along the line,” Macdonald said. “He is involved at the moment as an executive producer, and I would hope we can work with him in some way in the future.”
When the first 28 Years Later trailer dropped in December, rumors spread that Murphy might be playing a zombie, given a creature’s resemblance to the Oppenheimer star. However, this theory was quickly debunked after Empire‘s March cover revealed the infected character was actually portrayed by extra Angus Neill, not Murphy.
In the original 28 Days Later, Murphy’s character, Jim, a bike courier, awakes from a coma to find the world devastated by a “Rage Virus” pandemic, turning people into violent, uncontrollable monsters. 28 Years Later picks up nearly three decades later, with director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland returning to their roles.
The sequel will be set in Lindisfarne, a secluded area off the northeast coast of England, only accessible by causeway during low tide. Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Jodie Comer star as Jamie and Isla, parents raising their son Spike (Alfie Williams) in isolation. When Spike comes of age, he embarks on a journey beyond Lindisfarne to witness what has become of the world. That’s when the true drama begins.
Ralph Fiennes, who plays a doctor in the film, provided additional details about the plot. “It centers on a young boy who wants to find a doctor to help his dying mother,” he revealed in an October interview with IndieWire. “He leads his mother through this beautiful Northern English terrain, but lurking around them are the infected. He eventually finds a doctor who might seem unusual at first but proves to be a force for good.”
28 Years Later is set for release on June 20. The second installment, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, directed by Nia DaCosta, has already been filmed and is scheduled to hit theaters on January 16, 2026.
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