It might be disappointing for the fans but yes, Cillian Murphy is not returning to 28 Years Later, as confirmed by the franchise’s producer.
The Oscar winner for Oppenheimer is there as the executive producer for the franchise’s third installment. He also wasn’t there in the second part, 28 Weeks Later. Andrew Macdonald, the producer, confirmed that Murphy is not coming back this time for acting.
Macdonald further clarified that Murphy hoped he would collaborate “with him in some way in the future in the trilogy” but he is just taking the role of the film’s executive producer for now. The supposition is ceremoniously debunked.
Previously, when the trailer of 28 Years Later was out, people speculated that the emaciated zombie emerging from the green fields might be Cillian Murphy. It was later revealed by the art dealer, Angus Neill himself that he was spotted by Boyle for the role and he is the chosen one.
He went on to explain that Boyle always had him in mind. Why? Because he is also a professional model with unique looks. He has a 28-inch waist, which explains Boyle’s thoughts about him for the role.
Neill expounded that when he first saw the movie's trailer, he showed it to his girlfriend and she noted that people would be mistaken for the similarity of the infected being with Murphy, which he ignored at first. He admitted in a jocular response that he had been humble since then.
Although it was a relief for the fans that Murphy wouldn’t be seen as a zombie, which, on the contrary, could have been interesting. They still hoped to see him as a survivor, persistently perplexed about the idea of Murphy’s return to the franchise.
When Murphy came out as Jim, the bicycle courier, who woke up from a coma after the ‘rage virus’ destroyed the entire city, he survived at the end. Still, he was not seen in the next part.
The same stands true again. Previously, he admitted that he was eager to work with the team again. No one was sure whether he was talking about putting on the hat of an executive producer for the franchise and not the acting part.
However, this time, the newcomers include Ralph Fiennes, Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Erin Kellyman and Jack O’Connell.
28 Years Later would be a reunion of the director Danny Boyle, writer Alex Garland and the filmmaker Nia Da-Costa. The production companies associated with the third sequel are Columbia Pictures with BFI, DNA Films and Decibel Films.
The movie is set to release on June 16 this year.