Summary

Cillian Murphy is open to reprising his role as Jim in the upcoming sequel, 28 Years Later, saying that he’s available. 28 Years Later will feature original director Danny Boyle and original writer Alex Garland, with Murphy returning as a producer. 28 Weeks Later earned more mixed reviews than its predecessor, opening the door for a third film that goes back to the franchise’s roots with Murphy in a starring role.

Cillian Murphy comments on whether he will be reprising his role as Jim in 28 Years Later. Released in 2002, Danny Boyle’s 28 Days Later introduces Murphy’s Jim, following the character as he wakes up four weeks after a zombie-like virus ravages the UK. A sequel, 28 Weeks Later, which was directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, was released in 2007, but it focused on new characters. It’s now been confirmed that a third film scripted by original writer Alex Garland will feature Boyle back in the director’s chair with Murphy returning as a producer.

Now, as news remains scarce on the announced 28 Years Later, Murphy reveals during the SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s Conversations program (via Variety) that he’s open to reprise his role as Jim in the upcoming sequel, saying simply, “I’m available.” Unfortunately, the actor doesn’t elaborate on whether plans are actually in place for him to return to the role or not, but the panel host does point out that Jim remains alive when the end credits start to roll on 28 Days Later.

Should Jim Return In 28 Years Later?
Why Cillian Murphy’s Return Might Be A Good Idea

No story information has been released yet about the upcoming sequel, but the fact that it takes place close to 30 years after the events of the first film means there will be a lot of freedom in terms of how Garland and Boyle choose to approach it. The second film, which Garland didn’t return to write, opted not to bring any 28 Days Later cast members back, following a new group of survivors in their own battles against the Rage Virus.

28 Years Later could take this same approach, introducing new survivors and telling a brand-new story. That being said, the 28 Weeks Later reviews weren’t as positive as the ones for its predecessor, with the film coming under fire for feeling like a somewhat more generic zombie movie. Clearly, the combination of Boyle, Garland, and Murphy was a winning one in the first movie, and it would be interesting to see how the character of Jim has changed since his initial experiences with the Rage Virus.

28 Days Later is not currently available for streaming on any platforms, but 28 Weeks Later is available to watch on Hulu.

What’s more, Murphy’s star power has experienced a major bump since the release of the first film. After starring in Oppenheimer last year, for which he was nominated for Best Actor, Murphy returning to the role that arguably put him on the map as an actor could be a big draw for audiences. It remains to be seen how 28 Years Later will continue the saga, but the ending to 28 Days Later certainly leaves the door open for a Jim return.

Source: Variety

28 Years Later 28 Years Later is the tentative title for the third film in the “28 Days Later” franchise, initially conceived by Danny Boyle and Alex Garland. Originally expected to be titled “28 Months Later,” the film still hasn’t been officially confirmed, but preliminary work on a script has reportedly been underway. Director Danny Boyle Cast Cillian Murphy Franchise(s) 28 Days Later