28 Years Later: The Bone Templewill bridge new and established elements of Danny Boyle and Alex Garland’s post-apocalypse, notably with the confirmed return of Cillian Murphy as Jim. Murphy’s involvement in the planned trilogy of28 Days Latersequel films has been long documented, but little has been said about the details of his appearance.
The lack of information caused a stir when an early28 Years Latertrailer released, showing an emaciated-looking Infected who bore a strong resemblance to Murphy. Many fans were disappointed when Murphy was revealed not to be in28 Years Laterat all–but now his future in the franchise has been further clarified.
In an interview withDeadline,Murphy confirmed that he would be back as Jim in28 Years Later: The Bone Temple.The star even confirmed he would be at the center of the third28 Years Laterfilm, though he stressed that the third film happening at all was not a sure thing.
Here’s what Murphy had to say:
Deadline:This is totally aside, but you are definitely in28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, right?
Cilian Murphy: I think Danny (Boyle) has already confirmed that. So I can confirm.
Deadline:And you would be sort of the focal point of the third movie. If the third movie gets green lighted.
Cillian Murphy: Exactly, so in order for that to happen, every single person has to go and seeBone Temple.
What Murphy’s Comments Mean For The 28 Years Later Trilogy
Even though it has previously been reported that Murphy was in the28 Years Later: The Bone Templecast, having confirmation from the actor himselffurther cements the idea that his role in the sequel is an important one. Murphy will be the first character from the previous films to appear in this new exploration of28 Days Later’s world.
Murphy’s statement about the third28 Years Laterfilm also echoeswhat Danny Boyle and Alex Garland toldScreenRantabout the movie. Boyle stressed that they needed to raise the money to make the movie, implying that it will not happen unlessThe Bone Templeis successful at the box office.
Our Take On Murphy’s Involvement
The fact that Cillian Murphy will have something of a central role in the third28 Years Latermovie implies that some sort of narrative handoff will take place in28 Years Later: The Bone Temple.
SPOILERS AHEADWith the ending of28 Years Latersuggesting that Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s Jamie will try to find his runaway son Spike (Alfie Williams),28 Years Later: The Bone Templewill likely feature more of that particular family drama. But, in this writer’s opinion,The Bone Templecould easily be the end of the line for Jamie.
If Spike is still a central character in the story through28 Years Later: The Bone Templeand Cillian Murphy’s Jim is an important figure in the third film, it stands to reason that Jim could take on the mentor figure role which, for28 Years Later, was filled by Jamie.
There will still be28 Years Later’s Jimmies to contend with, of course, but how they fit in with the returns of Murphy and Taylor-Johnson will have to wait until the film is released next year.
