Oscar-winner Cillian Murphy will reprise his role as apocalypse survivor Jim from28 Days Laterin28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, but the latter film won’t be a true sequel to the actor’s first iconic zombie movie. Written by Alex Garland, thestory of28 Years Later: The Bone Templewill continue young Spike’s journey in the wilderness of Great Britain, which is overrun with zombies, with Sir Jimmy Crystal and his cult of tracksuit-wearing warriors.
Though2025’s28 Years Laterbrought audiences back to the world ravaged by the Rage virus after decades of waiting, it will still be a while before the franchise continues Jim’s story with a proper follow-up to28 Days Later. It has been confirmed thatJim won’t have the sizable role he had as the main protagonist of28 Days Later.
This may disappoint fans of28 Days Later, but given the story that28 Years Laterwas set up for Spike and Sir Jimmy, it doesn’t look like Murphy’s character would’ve been able to fit as a leading character.
Cillian Murphy Will Hardly Be In 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
Cillian Murphy Will Only Have A Cameo At The End Of 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple
28 Years Laterdirector Danny Boyle confirmed in an interview thataudiences will only see “a little bit” of Murphy at the end of28 Years Later: The Bone Templeas Jim(viaBusiness Insider). Boyle’s statement implies that Murphy’s role inThe Bone Templewill be a brief cameo, much like the one actor Jack O’Connell had when he appeared as Sir Jimmy Crystal at the end of28 Years Later.
While Jim’s exact role inThe Bone Temple’s story is unknown, it is possible that Jim may end up saving Spike’s life, just as Sir Jimmy did at the end of28 Years Later. This could mean that Murphy’s character will serve to set up the events of the third28 Years Latermovie, in which he will play a more prominent part.
Even with Murphy appearing inThe Bone Temple,his limited role at the end of the film doesn’t make for a fitting continuationof his story after28 Days Later.
The Bone Temple Will Likely Have A Very Different Tone
Cillian Murphy’s Character May Not Fit With The Bone Temple’s Distinctive Story
Eachfilm in the28 Days Laterfranchisefeatures a unique story with its own cast of characters and a distinctive tone. WhileThe Bone Templewill feature returning characters from28 Years Later, particularly Spike and Jamie, it seems it will feature a different tone from the latter film. Based on Sir Jimmy Crystal’s scene at the end of28 Years Later, it seemsThe Bone Templewill have a dark but more comedic tone.
Sir Jimmy Crystal introduced himself in28 Years Lateras azombie-slaying Jimmy Savillethat would fit more into the world ofA Clockwork Orange. SinceO’Connell’s eccentric character will have a much bigger role inThe Bone Temple, it seems the sequel’s story will be a far cry from the more grounded story seen in28 Days Later.
Jim’s presence may also be too distracting for audiences if he has a larger role inThe Bone Temple, especially when he’s being played by a huge star like Cillian Murphy.
As a result, Jim’s character would likely clash in a narrative dominated by Sir Jimmy and his band of odd, ultraviolent Jimmies. Jim’s presence may also be too distracting for audiences if he has a larger role inThe Bone Temple, especially when he’s being played by a huge star like Murphy.
The expectations surroundingMurphy’s character could detract from the focus on newer characterslike Spike, Jamie, and Crystal, which would makeThe Bone Templea lackluster follow-up to Jim’s story and28 Years Later.
The Third 28 Years Later Movie Will Be The True 28 Days Later Sequel
The Third 28 Years Later Movie Will Finally Continue Jim’s Story After Decades Of Waiting
Boyle has expressed hopes thatMurphy will help secure funding for the third28 Years Latermovie, in which he will play a pivotal role. Given the franchise’s recent resurgenceand Murphy’s own star power following his performance inOppenheimer, it seems likely that audiences will see more of Jim as the lead of a blockbuster sequel toThe Bone Temple.
This should make for a more traditional and satisfying follow-up to28 Days Later. While28 Days Laterhad asequel film in 2007 with28 Weeks Later, it didn’t follow Jim or any of his friends after the events of the first film. Instead, the movie followed a different group of survivors as the Rage virus continued to spread.
This creative decision left the fate of Jim and his group a mystery for decades after the first film premiered, especially since28 Weeks Latershowed the Rage virus spreading to mainland Europe, where Jim was supposedly taken. The franchise’s reboot with28 Years Laterand its upcoming sequel have only made it more exciting to see what became of Jim and his loved ones after all this time.
The28 Days Laterfranchise has been slowly building up to Jim’s return, with the Swedish soldier making a subtle reference to Jim. This should all pay off afterThe Bone Temple,with Murphy leading a film alongside the franchise’s newer characters at the end of the trilogy.
By giving Jim a leading role in a possible film after28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, the franchise should bring itself full circle by following the protagonist of its first film. Such a film could also dedicate enough time to exploring how Jim survived the spread of the virus and how his character changed during his absence. For now, the franchise seems more focused on presenting a balanced story surrounding Spike and Jimmy Crystal’s new adventure together, meaning Jim’s role has to be limited to a cameo.
