Cillian Murphy is Not in 28 YEARS LATER But Could Return to the Franchise But Show Up “Somewhere [Down] the Line” — GeekTyrant

Cillian Murphy will not be showing up in 28 Years Later despite the reports that he joined the film. However, according to producer Andrew MacDonald, we still might see Murphy’s iconic character, Jim, in the franchise’s future.

MacDonald revealed to Empire: “[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, and I would hope we can work with him in some way in the future in the trilogy.”

After the firs trailer for the film was released, some fans ridiculously assumed that a zombie that showed up was Murphy, Director Danny Boyle debunked that saying the zombie was actually portrayed by aspiring actor Angus Neill, not Murphy.

Boyle said: “I showed my girlfriend the trailer, and she said, ‘People will think that’s Cillian. I said, ‘Don’t be silly.’ I ignored her. So I’ve eaten a bit of humble pie since.”

The highly anticipated sequel stars Jodie Comer and Aaron Taylor-Johnson as survivors living on a remote island, far from the infected. Their precarious peace is shattered when they venture back to the mainland, facing the horrors of a resurgent Rage Virus.

The official synopsis teases: “Sometime after the events of 28 Weeks Later, the Rage Virus has returned, and a group of survivors must endure a world ravaged by hordes of the infected.”

Joining the cast are Jack O’Connell, Erin Kellyman, and Ralph Fiennes. Fiennes described the film’s emotional core in a recent interview, saying:

“Britain is 28 years into this terrible plague of infected people… It centers on a young boy who wants to find a doctor to help his dying mother. He leads her through this beautiful northern English terrain, but of course, the infected are lurking everywhere.”

28 Years Later is the first of a planned trilogy, with both the first and second installments already filmed. Boyle returned to direct the opening chapter, while Nia DaCosta (Candyman, The Marvels) helms the sequel.

The creative team is utilizing the iPhone 15 Pro Max with specialized attachments for portions of the filming.

28 Years Later arrives in theaters on June 20, 2025. Will the future of the franchise bring Jim back into the fold? Only time—and possibly the infected—will tell.