In the wake of his portrayal of J. Robert Oppenheimer in Christopher Nolan’s Oppenheimer, Cillian Murphy‘s fame is higher than ever, but his two other best-known roles are of characters who will likely die in upcoming films. Murphy officially began working as an actor in the mid-to-late 1990s, making his debut in Enda Walsh’s 1996 play Disco Pigs. It didn’t take long for Murphy to rise to prominence, though. By the early 2000s, his name would be known worldwide, thanks to his breakout role in Danny Boyle’s popular post-apocalyptic zombie movie 28 Days Later.

Murphy’s performance in Disco Pigs caught the attention of 28 Days Later‘s casting director, and the rest is history. His role as Jim in the 2002 film opened the door for other opportunities, including playing Jonathan Crane/Scarecrow in Nolan’s Batman Begins. However, Murphy only reached the same level of success he experienced with 28 Days Later when he starred as Thomas “Tommy” Shelby in BBC’s Peaky Blinders, beginning in 2013. Of course, Murphy has appeared in various prominent movies over the years. But he will always be known for his roles in 28 Days Later and Peaky Blinders (and now Oppenheimer).

Cillian Murphy’s Tommy Shelby Looks Likely To Die In The Peaky Blinders Movie

Murphy Reprises His Role As Tommy In The Immortal Man

Peaky Blinders (the TV show) ended in 2022, but its finale won’t be the last time fans see Cillian Murphy as Tommy Shelby. Murphy, along with other cast members, will return in The Immortal Man, a Netflix movie that continues Peaky Blinders‘ story and reportedly takes place during World War II. While exciting, there is a very real possibility that Tommy will die in the upcoming film.

As some may remember, Tommy nearly died during the last season of BBC’s period crime drama, and many viewers expected him to. Nevertheless, Murphy’s complex character survived — just to likely die in the Peaky Blinders movie. Tommy has committed some pretty heinous crimes throughout the TV series, and it’s difficult to see an end for the gangster other than him knocking on death’s door. So, The Immortal Man will probably serve as Murphy’s last outing as his notorious character. Unfortunately, Netflix hasn’t announced a release date for the Peaky Blinders movie, but many predict it will premiere by the end of 2025.

Even if Murphy exits the Peaky Blinders universe after The Immortal Man, it is expected to live on. When asked about the future of Peaky Blinders, creator Steven Knight told The Playlist, “Yeah. And as long as there’s an appeтιтe for it and people want it, and I’ve got stories to tell, then why not?” He also described the movie as “a fitting end to the first chapter,” implying there will be more to come, with or without Murphy.

Jim Could Die In The Upcoming 28 Years Later Trilogy (He Was Meant To In The First Movie)

Murphy Is Credited As An Executive Producer For 28 Years Later

As for Jim in the 28 Days Later franchise, Cillian Murphy’s breakout role might die in the third movie, 28 Years Later, which premieres on June 20, 2025. He died in the original film’s alternate ending, after all. Murphy isn’t expected to reprise his role as Jim in the post-apocalyptic horror movie, though. According to the producers, Murphy is solely an executive producer on 28 Years Later, not also a cast member. However, that doesn’t mean that Jim can’t die off camera, or that the producers aren’t lying.

Another possibility is that Murphy returns and dies as Jim in the fourth 28 Days Later movie, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, which has a scheduled release date of January 16, 2026. Whatever the case, there is no way the upcoming two sequels won’t at least mention Jim. It wouldn’t make sense, given the importance of Murphy’s character in the franchise.

Cillian Murphy Killing Off Older Characters Makes Sense After His Oppenheimer Oscars Win

Murphy Won The Academy Award For Best Actor

It will undoubtedly be sad if both Peaky Blinders‘ Tommy Shelby and 28 Days Later‘s Jim die within the next two years. However, Cillian Murphy saying goodbye to two of his most important roles is inevitable, especially after he won the Best Actor Oscar for his performance in Oppenheimer. The win opens the door for even more opportunities for Murphy. So, it’s time for the actor to look forward instead of backward, and take on other roles that can challenge him.

Source: The Playlist