28 Days Later imagery with Cillian Murphy and the infected

Fans hoping to see Cillian Murphy feature in 28 Years Later may have to wait a few more years to see the Oscar-winning actor return to the post-apocalyptic horror film series. A producer from the upcoming blockbuster confirms Murphy won’t appear, despite his involvement in the project.

During an interview with Empire, 28 Years Later producer Andrew Macdonald clarified Murphy’s status for the movie after the film’s first trailer, released last December, sparked speculation about his involvement. Though it was originally confirmed that Murphy was a part of the 28 Years Later cast, Macdonald revealed the acclaimed Irish actor won’t appear. “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 said.

Though Murphy won’t reprise his role from 28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later as Jim, he remains a producer on 28 Years Later and could feature on-screen at some point in Danny Boyle and Alex Garland’s planned trilogy. “He’s involved at the moment as an executive producer,” Macdonald said. “And I would hope we can work with him in some way in the future in the trilogy.”

Cillian Murphy Is Not in the Trailer Despite Speculation

After the announcement of Murphy’s 28 Years Later involvement last May, fans were excited to see what the award-winning star would bring after his performances in the previous two films. The first trailer seemingly showed a zombie looking like Murphy, sending social media into a frenzy as it appeared to give away the fate of his legacy character. However, art dealer Angus Neill later revealed himself as the Murphy-like zombie shown in the short snippet.

MacDonald’s comments definitively rule Murphy out of the film, though he could feature in either of the next two sequels. Following 28 Years Later is The Bone Temple, directed by The Marvels helmer Nia DaCosta and slated for a Jan. 16, 2026 premiere. Meanwhile, the upcoming threequel reportedly hinges on the success of 28 Years Later. The first film in the 28 Years Later trilogy stars Kraven the Hunter‘s Aaron Taylor-Johnson (Jamie), Jodie Comer (Isla), Ralph Fiennes and Jack O’Connell. 28 Years Later was shot back-to-back with The Bone Temple, wrapping filming last July and costing $75 million to make.

Jim is running from a burning zombie in 28 Days Later. Cillian Murphy as Jim waking up from his coma and walking the world without any people to be found in 28 Days Later. 28 Days Later Naomie Harris holds a weapon. 28 Days Later Rage Virus Zombie looking in a window Jim is running from a burning zombie in 28 Days Later. Cillian Murphy as Jim waking up from his coma and walking the world without any people to be found in 28 Days Later. 28 Days Later Naomie Harris holds a weapon. 28 Days Later Rage Virus Zombie looking in a window

Following his Best Actor Oscar-winning performance in Oppenheimer, Murphy was last seen on the big screen in the well-received historical drama, Small Things Like These. Murphy recently wrapped filming for The Immortal Man, the upcoming Netflix feature-length adaptation of the hit series, Peaky Blinders, which will see him return as gangster Tommy Shelby.

28 Years Later opens in theaters across North America on Jun. 20.