Danny Boyle’s “28 Years Later” Ignites Excitement with Cillian Murphy’s Return

by Annika April 1, 2025

The haunting world of 28 Years Later was resurrected at CinemaCon, bringing a fresh jolt of excitement to the event. Director Danny Boyle delivered a lively presentation featuring the new film’s latest trailer, teasing fans about the return of original star Cillian Murphy, and discussing the future of the anticipated trilogy.

Danny Boyle’s “28 Years Later” Ignites Excitement with Cillian Murphy’s Return

– Director Danny Boyle debuted the latest trailer for 28 Years Later, the sequel to his 2002 hit film 28 Days Later, at the Sony presentation at CinemaCon in Las Vegas. The film will star Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Ralph Fiennes, with plans for a trilogy, which will also involve the original film’s star, Cillian Murphy.
– Nia DaCosta, who directed the second film in the planned series, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, said that its script is very different from the original. The third film in the trilogy is yet to secure financing, Boyle announced urging fans to support the first two movies.

The Zombie-Action movie, 28 Years Later, created a riveting atmosphere at the CinemaCon. Director Danny Boyle was at the epicenter of the Sony presentation in Las Vegas, where he premiered the latest trailer. He amusingly admitted not having learned much since the creation of the predecessor film, 28 Days Later, released in 2002.

Boyle still holds a strong admiration for British-style apocalypse stories. He expressed his continuing fascination for zombie infection plotlines, his passion for high-octane action, and his anticipation for fans to see the original star of 28 Days Later, Cillian Murphy, in this new trilogy. He hinted, “Prepare to wait a bit as good things in life often require patience.”

Sharing the spotlight was Nia DaCosta, director of the forthcoming sequel, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. According to DaCosta, although the film took inspiration from 28 Days Later, The Bone Temple script differs significantly, allowing her to fully express her creative freedom.

Boyle further added that the financing for the anticipated third installment of the franchise is yet to be finalized, hence, a call for fans to back the first two movies was made.

The movie, 28 Years Later, features stars like Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes. The new film was orchestrated by Boyle, based on a script by Alex Garland, the writer of the original 28 Days Later movie.

The Hollywood Reporter revealed last year that the long-awaited follow-up movie, including a second film, was taken under the wings of Sony Pictures. With Garland working on scripts for the looming trilogy, the report also mentioned that Cillian Murphy, the star of 28 Days Later and 2024 Oscar winner for Oppenheimer, was being roped in as an executive producer. Included in the production team were Boyle, Garland, Andrew MacDonald, Peter Rice, and Bernie Bellew.

DaCosta, also the director of the 2023 blockbuster The Marvels, is heading 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple while the release date of the second horror trilogy film is set to be January 16, 2026. Boyle also confirmed that he is on board to direct the third part of the trilogy, pending its confirmation.

The groundbreaking film, 28 Days Later, tells the story of Murphy, as a patient in a coma who awakens in a deserted hospital. He discovers the world had succumbed to the zombies 28 days prior. The film led to the sequel 28 Weeks Later in 2007, where Boyle and Garland only made contributions as executive producers.