Cillian Murphy Is Coming Back to ’28 Days Later’ Franchise After All

Cillian Murphy will return to the 28 Days Later franchise — but fans will have to wait a bit.

Director Danny Boyle revealed in interviews with IGN and IndieWire that Murphy, 49, who starred in the franchise’s first film, 28 Days Later, will appear in 2026’s The Bone Temple. Directed by Nia DaCosta, the pic is a sequel to this summer’s highly anticipated 28 Years Later, which hits theaters June 20.

“He is in the second one. I shouldn’t give away too much. I’ll get killed,” Boyle told IGN, while referencing the new trilogy crafted by himself and writer Alex Garland. The two created the post-apocalyptic franchise’s original film in 2002.

Boyle’s confirmation brings to rest countless fan theories as to whether Murphy’s character Jim from 28 Days Later would ever appear in the new trilogy and face off once again with people infected by the Rage Virus. The first trailer for 28 Years Later shows an “infected” character who bears an eerie resemblance to the Oppenheimer actor.

Speaking with IndieWire, Boyle added that Murphy will have a “significant role” by the third film, which has yet to be greenlit — but a solid box office performance from 28 Years Later and Murphy’s involvement could help. The Oscar winner serves as an executive producer for the upcoming film in the franchise.

“It doesn’t take a genius to work out there’s going to be a big role for Cillian Murphy in it. Yeah, a significant role. All I can say, because I know the idea of the story, which has been mapped out, it is clever. It is a very smart use of him,” Boyle said. “There is a very satisfying introduction of him in the second film, and when I saw it, the way [Nia had] done it, I was like, ‘Oh, yeah, that’s pretty good.’ “

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Discussing what’s to come for the refreshed franchise, Boyle explained 28 Years Later and its subsequent films “have connecting characters,” starting with newcomer Alfie Williams’ 12-year-old character Spike. Fellow franchise newcomers include Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes.

“[Spike] will run right way through the films,” Boyle said. We’ve shot the first two back-to-back, and that was for logistical reasons, actor availability reasons, and for story reasons as well. They’re literally continuous.”

28 Years Later arrives in theaters June 20. The sequel, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, is set for release on Jan. 16, 2026.