Danny Boyle Says Fan-Favorite Character Will Lead 28 Years Later Trilogy Finale — If It Gets Made

Danny Boyle is mapping out an ambitious trilogy for 28 Years Later, with Cillian Murphy set to play a major role. In a recent chat with Josh Horowitz, Boyle revealed that Murphy’s character, Jim, from 28 Days Later, will take center stage in the third film, provided funding comes through. “If we get the money… the story arc is very carefully worked out,” Boyle said.

The second film, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, hits theaters on June 20, 2025, in the US, UK, and Canada. It stars Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Jack O’Connell as a family navigating a Britain ravaged by the Rage Virus. Ralph Fiennes also joins the cast in a key role.

While Murphy appears in this film and serves as a producer, Boyle confirmed his larger presence in the trilogy’s finale in a previous interview. “Cillian Murphy is an element in the second film and a very dominant element in the third film,” he said. “There’s a story arc across all three films. The principle of this is what we sold to Sony… We’re not going to lie to people. It is a trilogy.”

Boyle and writer Alex Garland chose a fresh path, distancing the new films from 28 Weeks Later. “What Alex and I decided to do was make an original film. But it’s a story influenced by 28 Days Later,” Boyle explained. “It does not follow what happened in 28 Weeks Later, where the virus got into Europe.” They crafted a narrative where Europe isolated Britain, containing the outbreak across the Channel.

The trilogy aims for bold storytelling, blending horror with deep emotional and intellectual themes. “It’s not ambitious like Mission: Impossible scale,” Boyle noted. “But it’s ambitious in terms of its intellectual ideas and its emotional reach through the genre.” Garland initially wrote a more traditional sequel focused on weaponizing the virus, but they scrapped it for a fresher approach. “We just didn’t want to do that. There was something fresher we could tackle,” Boyle said.

Filming for 28 Years Later took place from May to July 2024 in northern England, including Northumberland, Yorkshire, and Somerset. The production, backed by Columbia Pictures, used an iPhone 15 Pro Max alongside drones and film cameras for a unique look.

Boyle’s vision for the 28 Years Later trilogy sounds thrilling, especially with Murphy’s return as Jim. The choice to break from 28 Weeks Later and explore new ideas feels smart, keeping the story fresh while staying true to the gritty horror roots. Using iPhones for filming is a bold move that could set this apart visually.

I’m curious to see how the trilogy balances horror with deeper themes. What do you think about Murphy’s comeback and the new direction for 28 Years Later? Share your thoughts in the comments below!