Cillian Murphy Will Not Appear In ’28 Years Later’ After All

Fans will have to wait a little longer for Cillian Murphy‘s triumphant return to the 28 Days Later franchise.

Although the Oscar winner is involved in the upcoming threequel as an executive producer, 28 Years Later producer Andrew Macdonald recently explained that Murphy “wanted to be involved” but won’t appear in the film, which premieres June 20.

“[On] this, we wanted him to be involved and he wanted to be involved,” he told Empire. “He is not in the first film, but I’m hoping there will be some Jim somewhere along the line.”

Macdonald noted, “He’s involved at the moment as an executive producer, and I would hope we can work with him in some way in the future in the trilogy.”

Following 28 Years Later, which reunites original director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland, the Nia DaCosta-helmed followup 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple premieres Jan. 16, 2026.

After fans speculated that one zombie from last month’s 28 Years Later teaser was Murphy in makeup, and art dealer Angus Neill revealed that he was the performer in the shot, director Danny Boyle admitted he was warned the casting choice might inspire a case of mistaken identity.

“I showed my girlfriend the trailer and she said, ‘People will think that’s Cillian,'” he told the outlet. “I said, ‘Don’t be silly.’ I ignored her. So I’ve eaten a bit of humble pie since.”

Murphy stars in 2002’s 28 Days Later as Jim, a bicycle courier who wakes from a coma to find the ‘Rage Virus’ has decimated London. Although he didn’t appear in the 2007 sequel 28 Weeks Later, Deadline reported last January that Murphy is back as an EP on the third film.