The new trailer for Danny Boyle and Alex Garland’s 28 Years Later has dropped, but Cillian Murphy was nowhere to be seen in major curveball despite the actor being ‘teased’ for a return.
Speculation has been rife about his role in the new movie after he starred as Jim in the 2002 sequel film 28 Days Later, well before he shot to Oscar success.
Last month, Danny teased that viewers may get to see Cillian, 48, return after all, in one of the films in the trilogy.
Speaking during Sony’s presentation at 2025 CinemaCon, the filmmaker hinted: ‘Like all good things in life, you may have to wait a little while for [Cillian] to make his appearance’.
When the first trailer for the highly-anticipated film was released in December, fans went wild over one unexpected moment that saw a zombie rise up in a field behind Jodie Comer’s character.
The clip sparked worldwide speculation amongst fans, believing it to be the zombified form of Cillian’s character from the first film.
The new trailer for Danny Boyle and Alex Garland’s 28 Years Later has dropped, but Cillian Murphy was no where to be seen despite the actor being ‘teased’ for a return
Speculation has been rife about the his role in the new movie after he starred as Jim in the 2002 sequel film 28 Days Later
Cillian pictured as Jim in the 2002 film, well before he shot to Oscar success for Best Actor for Oppenheimer
However, this theory was quickly shut down when a London art dealer and model revealed he was the one playing the zombie character.
Earlier this year, movie producer Andrew Macdonald confirmed that Cillian would not be appearing in 28 Years Later, but also suggested he could return for a future film.
He told 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 added: ‘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.’
The latest terrifying trailer for the new zombie horror landed on Thursday, as fans continue to speculate over when Cillian’s Jim will appear in the sequel.
The first film, which is set to hit cinemas this June, will star Jodie, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jack O’Connell, Alfie Williams and Ralph Fiennes.
In the trailer, the horror film follows a group of survivors of the Rage virus living on an isolated island, with their only connection to the mainland being a heavily guarded causeway.
As Jamie (Aaron) and his 12-year-old son, Spike (Alfie), head off to the mainland on a mission, they uncover horrifying truths about the virus’s evolution.
The latest terrifying trailer for the new zombie horror landed on Thursday, as fans continue to speculate over when Cillian’s Jim will appear in the sequel
The first film, which is set to hit cinemas this June, will star Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson , Jack O’Connell , Alfie Williams and Ralph Fiennes
In the trailer, the horror film follows a group of survivors of the Rage virus living on an isolated island, with their only connection to the mainland being a heavily guarded causeway
‘There are many kinds of death,’ Dr. Kelson (Ralph) says in the trailer. ‘And some are better than others.’
The film’s official synopsis reads: ‘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 created by 28 Days Later.
‘It’s been almost three decades since the rage virus escaped a biological weapons laboratory, and now, still in a ruthlessly enforced quarantine, some have found ways to exist amidst the infected.
‘One such group of survivors lives on a small island connected to the mainland by a single, heavily-defended causeway.
‘When one of the group leaves the island on a mission into the dark heart of the mainland, he discovers secrets, wonders, and horrors that have mutated not only the infected but other survivors as well.’
The second film in the new trilogy, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, directed by Mia DaCosta and also written by Garland, has already filmed, with Taylor-Johnson and Jack O’Connell confirmed.
The third film is set for release in January next year, with Danny expected to return as the director.
28 Years Later hits UK cinemas on June 20, 2025.
