Cillian Murphy Will Return in 28 YEARS LATER Movie

Danny Boyle and Alex Garland are teaming up again. That might sound like dream come true, but it’s actually something even better: a nightmare. We know because the last time they worked together was 2002’s 28 Days Later. That popular horror film’s influence is still being felt more than two decades later. Now it’s going to be felt even longer. That’s exactly what is bringing them back together. They’re making a sequel to their modern zombie classic. Only it might be more than just a single new entry in the franchise. It could launch a new trilogy.

Cillian Murphy with a beard in hospital pajamas in 28 Days Later
Fox Searchlight Pictures

Cillian Murphy Will Return in 28 Years Later

When asked if Cillian Murphy would reprise his role in 28 Years Later, Sony Motion Pictures Group chairman Tom Rothman said yes. Cillian Murphy will return in 28 Years Later. But it’s more complex than that. Rothman shared:

Yes, but in a surprising way and in a way that grows, let me put it that way. This is Danny [Boyle] at his best, combined with a very commercial genre, like we had with Edgar Wright and Baby Driver. Sometimes when you put a real signature director into a commercial arena, it elevates it.

The Cast of 28 Years Later

Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes join 28 Years Later
BBC America/Sony/MGM

According to Variety, in addition to Murphy, the cast of 28 Years Later is also coming together. The publication reports that Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes have joined the film. That’s a pretty star-studded opening play.

An interview with Elle teases Comer’s role in the fun. The publication notes, “The part means she’ll get to add another accent to her repertoire: Geordie. She has been watching clips of Cheryl on The X Factor with her dialect coach to prepare.” Comer notes, “I’m excited to get the first day done… Danny just seems like such a confident, intuitive and intelligent director. The original was so loved, so I’m trying not to think of that too hard. I’m not putting too much expectation on myself.”

28 Years Later‘s Release Date

The highly anticipated 28 Years Later movie has a release date: June 20, 2025. Hopefully, that means we’ll be seeing more from it very soon.

Danny Boyle and Alex Garland Re-Teaming for Sequel and Possible Trilogy

Danny Boyle, who directed 28 Days Later, is making his long-awaited return to the franchise. Even better he is bringing the original film’s writer, Garland, with him. Boyle will direct a new film, 28 Years Later, which will move the story decades past the original entry starring Cillian Murphy.

Rather than just one film, though, THR says the duo has plans to launch a trilogy. Garland would write all three scripts, with the Academy Award-winning Boyle directing the first at least. Variety recently reported that Nia DaCosta is in talks to direct the second part of the trilogy. Garland and Boyle will begin shopping the project to studios soon. The pitch will include giving each film its own $75 million budget. That would pay for a whole lot of very fast reanimated corpses.

While this movie would mark the return of Boyle and Garland as a creative team, their zombie film did get a sequel with 2007’s 28 Weeks Later. However, they only served as executive producers on the movie. (Which, for the record, was still very good!) That’s what makes this news so exciting for fans, especially those who remember what a cultural phenomenon 28 Days Later was.

It still is. The modern zombie renaissance owes a lot to Boyle and Garland. With their renewed partnership it is likely going to owe them even more in the future.

Originally published on January 11, 2024.