The following contains spoilers for 28 Years Later.Director Danny Boyle teases Cillian Murphy’s return in the 28 Years Later sequels. The Oppenheimer star played the protagonist Jim in the franchise’s 2002 original movie, 28 Days Later, which sees him waking up in a deserted city a month after the Rage Virus broke out. The latest installment, taking place almost three decades after the devastating incident, is set to kickstart a new trilogy. While Murphy didn’t return in the 2025 horror flick, he serves as an executive producer.

In an interview with ScreenRant‘s Liam Crowley, Boyle confirmed that Murphy will play a part in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. The director shared that Jim will be introduced “at the coda” of Nia DaCosta’s film. Comparing Murphy’s introduction in the second movie to Jimmy’s role in 28 Years Later, the director teased that “Cillian will be a huge part of the third movie.” Read what he said below:

Yeah, I have admitted this under pressure. I’ve obviously seen a rough cut of Nia DaCosta’s film of The Bone Temple and he’s introduced beautifully at the coda of that film. That obviously leads you in the way that you’ll probably realize that Jimmy is going to be a huge part of the second movie having been introduced at the end of the first movie. Likewise, Cillian will be a huge part of the third movie having been introduced in what is, in effect, a coda to the second movie. A very surprising one nonetheless.

What Danny Boyle’s Comment Means For 28 Years Later

Cillian Murphy Will Appear In The Bone Temple’s Ending

Jimmy was introduced at the beginning of the film, which saw him hiding underground to survive the outbreak as a child 28 years ago. While the character didn’t appear in the main plot, he had a surprise return at 28 Years Later‘s ending, where it’s revealed that he has become a cult leader. Based on Boyle’s comment, Jimmy will be the central focus in The Bone Temple, which will also serve as Murphy’s reintroduction to the franchise.

Written by Alex Garland and directed by DaCosta, the upcoming sequel was sH๏τ back-to-back with 28 Years Later and is expected to arrive in January 2026. Boyle’s comment suggests that even though Murphy will be back in the second movie, he likely won’t be crucially involved with The Bone Temple‘s plot, similar to Jimmy’s role in the first movie. Instead, Murphy is scheduled to be the central focus in the third movie, which is currently unconfirmed. In the same ScreenRant interview, Garland and Boyle also confirmed that they would return to write and direct the threequel if it receives the green light.

Our Take On Cillian Murphy’s Return In 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple

The 28 Years Later Threequel Needs To Happen

Garland and Boyle are saving the best till the very end, which makes the threequel’s confirmation more crucial than ever, but this doesn’t undermine Murphy’s “very surprising” return in the sequel. 28 Years Later sees the franchise evolving organically and surprisingly in ways that exceed most audiences’ expectations from the franchise.

While the original kills and unconventional storytelling in 28 Years Later may have divided the audience, it opens the franchise’s future to endless possibilities. Not looking to repeat what has been done before, Murphy’s return in The Bone Temple is also likely only similar to Jimmy’s introduction in spirit.