Cillian Murphy in 2002’s ’28 Days Later.’ Photo: Fox Searchlight Pictures.
Preview:
- Cillian Murphy is not in new zombie outing ‘28 Years Later.’
- One of the infected who looks a little like him shows up in the trailer.
- Murphy is a producer behind the scenes.
We know him these days as the ‘Oppenheimer’ Oscar winner and star of the popular ‘Peaky Blinders’ crime series out of the UK (which itself has a big screen version on the way), but back in 2002, Cillian Murphy had a few film and TV credits to his name but broke out in a big way thanks to Danny Boyle’s horror thriller ‘28 Days Later,’ which drew praise for its inventive take on the zombie genre (more on that below), its guerilla filming style and intensity.
The movie spawned a sequel, 2007’s ‘28 Weeks Later,’ but Murphy didn’t return for that one, nor did Boyle or writer Alex Garland, aside from being executive producers.
Fast-forward a good few years to now and Boyle is back, alongside Garland (who has since gone on to enjoy a healthy directing career himself) for a new planned trilogy kicking off later this year with ‘28 Years Later.’ And following the launch of the first teaser trailer a few weeks ago speculation has been rife that Murphy shows up as a skeletally thin member of the infected.
“In 28 days it began. In 28 weeks it spread. In 28 years it evolved.”
Academy Award®-winning director Danny Boyle and Academy Award®-nominated writer Alex Garland reunite for 28 Years Later, a terrifying new story set in the world… Read the Plot
When in fact… it’s not him.
Producer Andrew Macdonald confirmed to Empire that the shambling creature is, in fact, not played by Murphy:
“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.”
As for Boyle, he told the film magazine that his partner warned him of the similarity…
“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.”
What’s the story of ‘28 Days Later’?
Aaron Taylor-Johnson in ’28 Years Later’. Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing.
‘28 Days Later’ sees Murphy starring as Jim, a bike courier who has been in an accident and awakens from a coma to discover that London –– and the rest of the UK–– has been overtaken by a virus that turns its victims into rage-filled monsters who savage their victims.
While the “Z” word is never used, the Infected, for all their fast speed, are certainly a take on the genre.
‘28 Weeks Later’, which was directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, picked up the story months later as the country is slowly cleared of the infected, with evacuated civilians returning –– even as the danger persists.
As the title suggests, ‘28 Years Later’ will then spin the clock forward nearly three decades to see what life is like for the people who are making a go of living in the country –– and the fact that while the Infected are still a threat, the original movie’s theme of man’s inhumanity to man, even in the case of a unifying situation, also emerges.
Boyle and Garland are back as director and writer for ‘28 Years,’ which is kicking off the new trilogy. The cast includes Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ralph Fiennes, Jodie Comer, Jack O’Connell, Erin Kellyman and Alfie Williams.
‘Candyman’s Nia DaCosta has picked up the baton, directing ‘28 Years: The Bone Temple.’ The third movie has yet to be detailed.
Related Article: Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes on for ‘28 Years Later’
Who is the “Infected” in the trailer?
Cillian Murphy in 2002’s ’28 Days Later.’ Photo: Fox Searchlight Pictures.
After the internet lit up with chatter about the Infected in the trailer looking strikingly like Murphy, British art director Angus Neill told the UK’s Guardian newspaper that he’s behind the prosthetic:
“Danny told me he’d always had me in mind for the role. So we met up, hit it off, and I agreed to take part. On set he has an extraordinary ability to hypnotize you and working with him on the film was a very, very intense experience.”
You can see Neill’s professional Instagram listing here:
While Sony Pictures has yet to officially comment, Neill certainly looks the part.
Where can I see Cillian Murphy, then?
Cillian Murphy in ‘Peaky Blinders’. Photo: Netflix.
It’s not like Murphy is hurting for work –– he was in demand even before Christopher Nolan directed him to an Academy Award.
Murphy was most recently seen in indie title ‘Small Things Like These,’ which itself is drawing some awards attention.
He will be back on our screens in the aforementioned ‘Peaky Blinders’ movie for Netflix, reprising the role of crime boss Tommy Shelby. The film has yet to confirm a launch date.
Then there’s comedy drama ‘Steve,’ in which he plays the titular headteacher who is battling for his reform college’s survival while managing his mental health.
Finally, he’s attached to star in based-on-truth crime/mining drama ‘Blood Runs Coal.’
When will ‘28 Years Later’ be in theaters?
‘28 Years Later’ is currently scheduled to infect theaters on June 20th.
DaCosta’s ‘28 Years Later: The Bone Temple,’ meanwhile, will follow on January 16th, 2026.
(L to R) Rose Byrne and Jeremy Renner in ’28 Weeks Later’. Photo: 20th Century Fox.