Fans of 28 Days Later hoping to see Cillian Murphy reprise his role as Jim in the upcoming sequel 28 Years Later will have to wait a little longer. According to producerAndrew Macdonald, Murphy won’t appear in the first film of the new trilogy — though there’s still a chance he could return down the line.
“He is not in the first film, but I’m hoping there will be some Jim somewhere along the line,” Macdonald confirmed in a recent interview with Empire. While Murphy isn’t returning in front of the camera just yet, he’s still involved in the project as an executive producer.
“We wanted him to be involved, and he wanted to be involved,” Macdonald added. “I would hope we can work with him in some way in the future in the trilogy.”
No, That’s Not Cillian Murphy as a Zombie in the Trailer
When the first trailer for 28 Years Later dropped in December, fans speculated that Murphy might be playing a certain infected zombie glimpsed in the footage. However, the March cover of Empire magazine confirms that Angus Neill, an extra on the film, plays the particular infected in question — not Murphy.
The confusion is understandable. The eerie close-up of the infected featured in the trailer does bear a resemblance to the Oppenheimer star. But it seems Murphy’s character is still missing from the action — for now.
What We Know About 28 Years Later
The third installment in the 28 Days Later franchise is directed by Danny Boyle and written by Alex Garland, both returning to their original roles. Set nearly three decades after the events of 28 Days Later, the story moves to Lindisfarne (Holy Island) off the northeast coast of England.
The film follows Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Jodie Comer, who play parents Jamie and Isla, raising their 12-year-old son Spike (Alfie Williams) in a highly isolated community. When Spike embarks on a rite of passage beyond Lindisfarne to see what remains of the world, chaos ensues.
Ralph Fiennes Teases More Plot Details
Actor Ralph Fiennes, who plays a doctor in the film, previously hinted at some additional plot details.
“It centers on a young boy who wants to find a doctor to help his dying mother,” Fiennes told IndieWire in October. “He leads his mother through this beautiful Northern English terrain. But, of course, around them hiding in forests and hills and woods are the infected. But he finds a doctor who is a man we might think is going to be weird and odd, but actually is a force for good.”
The New Trilogy Is Already Underway
Following 28 Years Later, the next installment in the trilogy is titled 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple and is directed by Nia DaCosta (The Marvels). The sequel has already finished filming and is scheduled to hit theaters on Jan. 16, 2026.
For now, fans will have to wait and see if Jim makes his long-awaited return in the trilogy’s future films. But one thing is certain — the 28 Days Later universe is expanding, and it’s more terrifying than ever.
The confusion is understandable. The eerie close-up of the infected featured in the trailer does bear a resemblance to the Oppenheimer star. But it seems Murphy’s character is still missing from the action — for now.
