Is Cillian Murphy in 28 Years Later?

28 Years Later – the upcoming follow-up to 28 Days Later – just got an exciting update, one that begs the question: will Cillian Murphy be reprising his role as Jim?

Cillian Murphy is up for a Best Actor Oscar for his epic turn in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer. But long before his days as “the father of the atomic bomb,” or even his turn as Thomas Shelby in Peaky Blinders, Murphy was best known as the patient-turned-zombie-fighter in Danny Boyle’s 28 Days Later. 

Widely regarded to be one of the best horror movies ever made, 28 Days Later saw the birth of a new subgenre with the arrival of the ever-terrifying fast zombies. The 2002 film was followed by 28 Weeks Later in 2007, this time directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo. 

Although Murphy didn’t reprise his role for the sequel, now that 28 Years Later is in development, will the actor return as Jim? Here’s what we know. 

Is Cillian Murphy in 28 Years Later?

Cillian Murphy will take on the role of executive producer for 28 Years Later, but he will also be returning to star in the film.

Murphy’s involvement was confirmed in a May 2024 interview with Sony chairman Tom Rothman, who revealed Murphy would be returning for 28 Years Later, “but in a surprising way and in a way that grows.”

The Hollywood Reporter originally shared the news that 28 Days Later director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland will be returning to helm the follow-up. It went on to say that Murphy “could also possibly act in the project, although details are being quarantined.”

After taking the project to Hollywood studios and streamers, 28 Years Later has officially now been bought by Sony, with THR adding: “The idea of having the original creators return to lead a sequel or two had some comparing it to George Miller returning to Mad Max with 2015’s Fury Road.”

As for why the creators decided to skip “28 Months Later” and go straight to years, it’s simply due to how much time has passed since the original film, allowing a more appropriate continuation of the story.

Speaking to Inverse in July 2023, Garland said, “A few years ago an idea materialized in my head for what would be really 28 Years Later. Danny always liked the idea.” The writer also didn’t hold back on raising issues with the sequel, 28 Weeks Later. 

“I resisted [making a sequel] for a long time because there were things about 28 Weeks that bugged me,” he explained. “I just thought, ‘F*ck that. I’d rather try to write a different story in a different world.’”
But it looks like Boyle and Garland are ready to venture back into this world. Little is known about the plot at the time of writing, but there is hope that 28 Years Later will be the first of a new trilogy. You can read more about the project here.