28 Years Later Trailer Prompts Speculation Among Fans Regarding Cillian Murphy’s Character

The trailer for 28 Years Later has been released, offering viewers an initial glimpse into the highly anticipated sequel to the horror movies 28 Days Later (2002) and 28 Weeks Later (2007), which is scheduled for release next summer after a considerable wait. Viewers quickly identified a figure in the trailer resembling a zombified version of Cillian Murphy’s character, Jim, the bike courier from 28 Days Later, who previously survived an apocalypse despite significant challenges. This figure appears behind Jodie Comer’s character in a field, showing signs of severe deterioration, which would be consistent if it were indeed Jim. Although some fans had speculated and hoped for the Oppenheimer Oscar-winner’s return to the series, Murphy’s name is not featured on the film’s promotional posters, though he is listed as an executive producer on the Sony Pictures website. The cast of the upcoming film includes Jodie Comer, known for Killing Eve; Aaron Taylor-Johnson from The Fall Guy; and Ralph Fiennes, star of Conclave. The trailer depicts all three actors engaging in combat with zombies. The narrative of 28 Years Later unfolds approximately three decades following the initial film, which depicted the catastrophic spread of a “rage virus” among humans after its escape from a biological weapons laboratory. In the third installment, a group of uninfected survivors is introduced, residing in quarantine on a secluded island. However, when one individual departs the island for a mission to the mainland, they uncover hidden terrors that have transformed both the infected and the uninfected survivors. The movie’s tagline states: “Time didn’t heal anything.” The trailer commences with a nostalgic reference to the well-known children’s television program Teletubbies, which premiered in 1997. It shows several children watching an old television, while the cheerful theme music plays in the background, conveying an innocent yet ominous atmosphere. The sequence quickly transitions into a series of rapid fight scene flashes, accompanied by an ominous, rhythmic audio recording of Rudyard Kipling’s war poem, Boots. A church is depicted with shattered windows, followed by a shot of a rural island adorned with wooden crosses and hanging rosary beads. Graffiti on what appears to be a farm building reads: “Behold he is coming with the clouds,” a verse from chapter one of the Bible’s book of Revelation, with the name “Jimmy” scrawled beside it in white paint. This raises the question of whether it alludes to Murphy’s character, Jim. Taylor-Johnson is subsequently shown moving through green fields armed with a bow and arrow, and the trailer includes several graphic, though indistinct, clips. A mound of skulls is visible in a clearing, preceding a brief appearance by the zombie-like figure, whose identity as Murphy remains unconfirmed. Comer is also observed holding a baby. On social media, numerous individuals made light of Murphy’s potential cameo, with one user remarking: “Method acting that would even shame Christian Bale.” Conversely, others expressed dissatisfaction, perceiving the brief glimpse as a spoiler. The initial film was penned by Alex Garland and helmed by Danny Boyle, who notably stated it was not a zombie film, despite its recognition for contributing to a resurgence in the genre. 28 Weeks Later, directed and co-written by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo, featured Jeremy Renner, Rose Byrne, and Robert Carlyle in its cast. Both Garland and Boyle have returned for the third movie, also serving as producers. 28 Years Later is scheduled for release on 20 June. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content of external websites. Information regarding our external linking policy is available.