28 Years Later Promises The Perfect Balance With Cillian Murphys Role

Cillian Murphy’s confirmed 28 Years Later return promises that his role as Jim will be perfectly balanced in the film’s narrative. Directed by Danny Boyle and co-written by Alex Garland, 28 Years Later is finally happening after over two decades since 28 Days Later‘s release. While most details surrounding its plot are still under the cover, the film’s main cast has been confirmed. As reports suggest, Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ralph Fiennes and Jack O’Connell are among its leading cast members, and it is scheduled to be released on June 20, 2025.

Since Cillian Murphy played one of the three main characters in the first film of the franchise, audiences were hoping he would return for the third installment. The actor’s eagerness to reprise his role and his involvement as a producer in the project raised even more anticipation surrounding his return as Jim. Fortunately, the Oppenheimer star’s role has been confirmed in 28 Years Later, making the movie sequel all the more exciting.

Cillian Murphy’s 28 Years Later Return Promises To Strike The Perfect Balance

Jim’s Return Means 28 Years Later Will Connect To The First Film

In a recent interview (via Deadline) at Cannes, Sony Motion Pictures Group chairman Tom Rothman revealed that Cillian Murphy will reprise his role as Jim in 28 Years Later. However, he still maintained an air of ambiguity surrounding the actor’s role by saying that he returns “in a surprising way and in a way that grows.” While Rothman did not delve into any other details surrounding the film, his statement about the Oscar-winning actor’s return to the franchise suggests the movie will likely strike the perfect balance between honoring the past and etching its own unique identity.

By featuring characters like Jim from 28 Days Later, 28 Years Later will seemingly establish a few connective threads between the film franchise’s past and the present. However, Cillian Murphy will probably not be one of the main characters of the movie because it will focus more on keeping things fresh by adopting a new, original narrative. While only time will tell whether this hinted approach will resonate with audiences, it seems to put the film on the right path towards succeeding.

Why 28 Years Later Is Taking The Right Approach To Its Sequel Story

28 Years Later’s Approach Can Please Both Old & New Audiences

Since 28 Years Later will release over two decades after the first film, it could risk alienating new audiences if it attempts to draw too many connections to the original film. At the same time, since 28 Days Later popularized the movie franchise with its groundbreaking portrayal of a post-apocalyptic world ravaged by fast-moving zombies, it is essential for 28 Years Later to pay homage to its roots. Since the first film has stood the test of time and is still a timeless zombie thriller, 28 Years Later can also benefit from leveraging its lasting popularity in the horror genre.

Therefore, by not overdoing connections to the first film but still maintaining a semblance of continuity in the franchise, 28 Years Later pleases both long-term franchise followers and new viewers. This balanced approach to its story may not entirely guarantee its success. However, it shows that 28 Years Later is avoiding 28 Weeks Later‘s biggest mistakes and already displaying the potential to be as good as 28 Days Later (if not better).