28 Years Later is coming up soon, and it will forge ahead without one of its major actors. The franchise film that started it all, 28 Days Later, featured Oscar winner Cillian Murphy in one of the leading roles, playing Jim. Despite surviving the events of the first movie, Jim did not return for the 2007 sequel 28 Weeks Later. Some viewers who watched an early 28 Years Later trailer thought that Murphy may be returning to the franchise in zombie form, but this theory was later debunked.

Instead, 28 Years Later will focus on the story of a group of survivors who are isolated on an island community and see their world rattled when one of them leaves for the mainland and discovers harsh secrets. Rather than bringing back characters from previous movies, 28 Years Later has a new cast including Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Alfie Williams, Ralph Fiennes, Jodie Comer, Emma Laird, and Erin Kellyman. This film is set to be followed up by not one, but two sequels, and they just got some news that is exciting but risky.

Cillian Murphy Will Get A Bigger Role In 28 Years Later 3 After The Bone Temple

Danny Boyle Recently Confirmed This Detail In An Interview

Director Danny Boyle just confirmed that Murphy will return for 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. Speaking on Nia DaCosta’s film, Boyle said that the director “gets a bit of Cillian at the end.” However, he then implied that it would actually be 28 Years Later 3 that would give Murphy the bigger role. If this film happens, this will be an exciting chance for the franchise to fully flesh out Jim’s story and his whereabouts since his last appearance nearly three decades ago.

Boyle did not confirm the full extent to which Murphy will appear in 28 Days Later: The Bone Temple, but it seems like his role will be fairly minimal. This could take the form of a quick cameo, paying homage to Jim without actually featuring him in significant scenes. The Bone Temple could also provide an ending tease or even a post-credits scene that shows a bit of Jim and hints about his storyline, building up hype for the third film in his more exciting role.

There’s A Potentially Major Problem With 28 Years Later’s Cillian Murphy Return Plan

The Third Film Is Not Confirmed

As exciting as Murphy’s return to the zombie franchise is, there is one major issue; 28 Years Later 3 has not been confirmed. Boyle seems optimistic about this in his quote, noting that “hopefully [Murphy] will help [them] get the third film financed.” On the more pessimistic angle, this means that 28 Years Later 3 has definitely not been financed yet. While Boyle has been confirmed to come back to direct 28 Years Later 3 after pᴀssing the torch to DaCosta for The Bone Temple, filming is said to start after this next film.

This means that a lot hinges on the performance of 28 Years Later and its follow-up, The Bone Temple. Murphy’s full return plan will only come to fruition if the predecessors succeed at the box office enough to get the third movie funded and on schedule. 28 Weeks Later ($65 million worldwide) already has a smaller box office than 28 Days Later ($85 million worldwide), despite its expanded budget. 28 Years Later needs to not repeat this pattern to ensure the third movie will get made.

Cillian Murphy’s Return Will Be Frustrating If Sony Doesn’t Finish The 28 Years Later Trilogy

It Might Not Come Through On The Tease

The uncertainty surrounding 28 Years Later 3 poses a major risk to the Murphy return plans. On the one hand, it could be exciting to get a brief tease of the character in The Bone Temple and then find out more answers in the following film. However, it would be incredibly frustrating if the franchise teases a major role that never comes to fruition. Even if The Bone Temple were to end fairly conclusively for the other characters, it would leave audiences who look forward to Jim’s comeback feeling unfulfilled.

28 Years Later is releasing on June 20, and 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is scheduled for January 16, 2026.