Is Cillian Murphy Returning to His Breakout Role in The '28 Days Later' Sequel?

A studio based in Culver City has clinched victory in a prolonged bidding war for the sequel to the 2002 horror classic, '28 Days Later.' Director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland have rejoined forces for the sequel titled '28 Years Later.'

Interestingly, Garland is set to pen Part 2 of the sequel. Boyle, however, will be in the director's chair only for the first project, leaving the helm for the sequel to be decided later. Cillian Murphy, who owes his career kickstart to the original film, is making a return, not just as an actor but also as an executive producer. There's a possibility of him gracing the screen again, but the details are under wraps.

In the upcoming horror franchise installment, '28 Years Later,' Murphy is confirmed to be involved in the production. The initial film depicted a rage virus transforming the UK population into aggressive beings. The sequel in 2007, '28 Weeks Later,' focused on a group attempting to rebuild after the disease's supposed eradication.

Murphy's return in '28 Years Later' is conceivable, considering his character, Jim, survived until the end of '28 Days Later.' The ambiguous fate in '28 Weeks Later' raises questions, as Jim wasn't mentioned. The virus's spread in continental Europe in the sequel further complicates matters.

Ultimately, Murphy's return hinges on his commitment to a more involved role, which might be uncertain given his flourishing career post-Oscar nomination for 'Oppenheimer' in 2023. Even if he can't star in the movie, his role as a producer could potentially lead to a cameo detailing Jim's fate.

The 'Oppenheimer' star has shown openness to the post-apocalyptic horror genre, evident in his appearance in the 2021 sequel 'A Quiet Place Part II' alongside Emily Blunt. Even if Murphy doesn't make an on-screen return, it doesn't rule out the possibility of other '28 Days Later' characters making a comeback.