Danny Boyle Confirms Cillian Murphy’s Return in the ’28 Years Later’ Trilogy

June 4, 20252 min read

Neighbor, would you like me to read the news to you?

Danny Boyle has officially announced that Cillian Murphy will reprise his role in the highly anticipated 28 Years Later trilogy.

The post-apocalyptic horror film, directed and written by Boyle, is set to hit theaters on June 20. This new installment follows in the footsteps of 28 Days Later (2002) and 28 Weeks Later (2007) and features a stellar cast including Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes.

Earlier this year, Boyle hinted that Murphy, who is also onboard as an executive producer, would play a significant role in the trilogy, noting, “Like all good things in life, you may have to wait a little while for him to make his appearance.”

In a conversation with IGN, Boyle elaborated on Murphy’s involvement, stating, “It’s a trilogy with interconnected characters.” He also mentioned that Spike, a 12-year-old boy portrayed by Alfie Williams in 28 Years Later, will be central to the narrative across all three films. “We shot the first two back-to-back for logistical, actor availability, and storytelling reasons. They are literally continuous,” Boyle added.

He also revealed some insights about the second film, titled 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, which is slated for release on January 16, 2026. “There’s an epilogue in the first film that transitions to the second,” he explained. “While each story wraps up, there’s a link that flows into the next film. It’s very ambitious. We haven’t secured funding for the third installment yet, which will depend on how well the first film performs.”

Boyle confirmed, “Cillian is in the second one,” but playfully added, “I shouldn’t give away too much. I might get in trouble.”

Fans recently expressed their excitement over the film’s latest trailer, which you can watch above. Boyle returns to direct after Juan Carlos Fresnadillo took the helm for 28 Weeks Later, with Alex Garland coming back as the writer—having penned the original 28 Days Later.

Moreover, Scottish hip-hop group Young Fathers will provide the score for the new film. Last December, the first trailer for 28 Years Later broke records, becoming the most-watched horror trailer of 2024 and the second-most-watched trailer of all time.