Director Danny Boyle confirms that Cillian Murphy will return in the planned 28 Years Later trilogy. Boyle directed the original 28 Days Later from 2002, which followed Murphy as a bicycle courier named Jim who awakens from a coma to discover that the Rage Virus has ravaged London. Boyle has returned as the director of the upcoming 28 Years Later, which is planned as the start of a new trilogy that already includes the sequel, subтιтled The Bone Temple, which was sH๏τ back-to-back by Nia DaCosta.

Now, during an interview with Business Insider, Danny Boyle confirmed that Cillian Murphy will return in the planned 28 Years Later trilogy. The director revealed that he will return at the end of The Bone Temple, helmed by DaCosta, and expressed hope that Murphy’s involvement will help “get the third film financed,” which he plans to direct himself. Read Boyle’s full comment below:

She gets a bit of Cillian at the end. All I can say is you have to wait for Cillian, but hopefully he will help us get the third film financed.

What This Means For The Planned 28 Years Later Trilogy

Cillian Murphy Is Returning After All

It was initially reported that Cillian Murphy was returning in 28 Years Later, and there was even speculation that a zombie version of Jim appeared in the 28 Years Later trailer. That was later debunked by the actor actually playing the infected person, followed by producer Andrew Macdonald confirming that Murphy doesn’t actually appear in 28 Years Later at all. Now, Boyle has confirmed that Murphy will be returning in the sequel, subтιтled The Bone Temple, which isn’t a surprise since, in September 2024, he was spotted on set shooting in Ennerdale, Cumbria.

Boyle says that Murphy will return “at the end” of 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, which sounds like it will be a cameo that sets up a larger role in the third and final film in the planned trilogy. Based on his comment, Boyle is essentially using Murphy as a bargaining chip to help get the third movie made, which is a wise move. While The Bone Temple was already sH๏τ back-to-back with its predecessor, the third and final film in the planned trilogy has not yet been greenlit by Sony.

Our Take On Cillian Murphy Returning In The Bone Temple

Did Danny Boyle Spoil The Surprise?

While fans will surely be excited to hear the news of Murphy returning in The Bone Temple, it seems like Boyle has essentially spoiled his surprise cameo at the end of the movie and potentially robbed the moment of its full emotional impact. Cameos like this tend to work best when they catch audiences completely off guard, creating a true surprise. While the strategy may help secure financing for the third film, it comes at the cost of one of The Bone Temple‘s potentially most powerful moments, one that could have surprised audiences instead of now being expected.

Source: Business Insider