After 28 years, Cillian Murphy won’t be on the show after all

When we last checked that Cillian Murphy was returning to Danny Boyle and Alex Garland’s Rage Virus-fueled franchise, we were debunking the fan theory that the 2024 Oscar winner had signed on to make an appearance. As a zombie in the movie “28 Years Later”. Yes, the gaunt figure emerging from a field in the film’s first trailer bore a slight resemblance to the actor, but this undead character was actually portrayed by the strikingly gaunt actor Angus Neill.

This brought movie fans back to square one with their wild speculation about how Murphy would reappear as Jim in the long-awaited third installment of the series — the first since 2007’s “28 Weeks Later.” For some, it came as a relief; While it might be momentarily fun to write Murphy out of universe as a zombie, Jim certainly deserves better. After all, we’ve seen it Horror “28 days later” Via his WTF, I just woke up from a coma to find myself in the perspective of the apocalypse. If Jim were still alive all these years later, we’d like to see him as a survivor. Whether living in this reality has sharpened his wits or driven him completely insane is up to Boyle and Garland, but, damn it, do right by this guy.

If you’re still worried about Jim’s role in 28 Years Later, I have…good news? At the very least, you can take comfort in knowing that Murphy won’t be playing a zombie this time around — at least, not yet.

According to the New Empire interview With “28 Years Later” producer Andrew MacDonald, Murphy will not be involved in “28 Years Later” at all, although he hopes Jim will work again on the series in the future. “It’s not in the first movie, but I hope there’s some Jim somewhere along the line,” he said. Whether this futuristic look comes to fruition remains to be seen Nia DaCosta has already been photographed “28 Days Later: The Bone Temple,” scheduled for 2026, or the unmade sequel to the proposed trilogy (which won’t move forward until Sony can evaluate the box office performance of “28 Years Later”), will have to wait and see.

As for why the fanbase was so convinced that Murphy would star in 28 Years Later even though he was never officially announced as a cast member and lacks a credit on the poster, Blame Reddit Sony CEO Tom Rothman. After photos surfaced of Murphy walking around the set of the sequel in street clothes, fans began circulating rumors that Jim would make another appearance. Rothman then told Deadline That Murphy would be in the film “but in a surprising way and in a growing way.”

Is it possible that MacDonald is lying to cover up a big surprise? maybe. You never want to film a game of dirty pool with your fanbase, but if Murphy’s post is anything like a shocking third-act reveal… This worksThen go ahead and lie. All is forgiven if you deliver the goods. Hopefully, that’s exactly what Boyle and Garland do, and who knows, maybe Murphy does when “28 Days Later” hits theaters on June 20, 2025.