Cillian Murphy’s Shocking Return in ’28 Years Later’: Not Until Trilogy’s Second Finale!

Cillian Murphy is set to make a comeback in the “28 Days Later” series, although fans will have to be patient for his reappearance. According to recent discussions with Business Insider and IGN, director Danny Boyle revealed that Murphy, who was a lead in the original 2002 movie “28 Days Later,” will not feature in the soon-to-be-released “28 Years Later.” However, he is scheduled to appear in the ending of its 2026 follow-up, “The Bone Temple.”

“He will be in the second film,” Boyle shared with IGN. “I can’t reveal too much. I’d be in big trouble.”

Boyle, together with writer Alex Garland, envisioned “28 Years Later” as the beginning of a new trilogy. The revival of the franchise features stars like Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer, and Ralph Fiennes, and was shot concurrently with its sequel, “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple,” directed by Nia DaCosta. A third installment is currently in the planning stages and may proceed depending on the success of “28 Years Later” at the box office. Boyle is optimistic that Murphy’s recent acclaim, including a Best Actor Oscar win for “Oppenheimer,” will aid in securing the necessary funds for the third movie.

“The only thing I can say is that we all have to wait for Cillian, but hopefully, he will play a crucial role in financing the third film,” Boyle told Business Insider. To IGN, he added, “Although each film in the trilogy is complete in itself, there’s a transition to the next. It’s quite ambitious. We are yet to secure funding for the third film. It all hinges on how well the first one performs. But if it does well, hopefully, we’ll get the green light and the necessary funding for the third movie. Cillian, among others, is eagerly awaiting this.”

Boyle also mentioned to Business Insider that having Murphy on board facilitated the approval to film “28 Years Later” using iPhones: “When you promise them Cillian Murphy, that significantly shifts any technical concerns to the background. They quickly overlook them. We cleverly used that fact to our advantage. What better promise could there be?”

Boyle’s film “28 Days Later” originally catapulted Murphy to stardom, featuring him as Jim, a man who wakes up in a deserted hospital to find the UK in ruins following an outbreak of a zombie apocalypse. Speculation about Murphy’s return has been rampant among fans, with some even mistaking an art dealer and acting newcomer, Angus Neill, for Murphy in the first trailer for “28 Years Later.”

“28 Years Later” is slated for release in theaters on June 20 by Sony Pictures. Its sequel, “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple,” is scheduled for release on January 16, 2026.