28 Years Later Update has me anxious about my most anticipated film of 2025

My family and friends know how excited I am about 28 Years Later. This is the latest installment in the iconic series, and I’m excited to see how this new trilogy will appeal to longtime fans and newcomers alike. But let’s just say that the latest update of 28 Years Later left me disappointed (and concerned) because Cillian Murphy won’t be in it.

Correct. Despite fan speculation that Murphy may have had a brief, eerie appearance as the Infected emerging from the tall grass in… “28 Years Later” trailer.producer Andrew Macdonald confirmed this in an interview with Empire that he is not in the movie.

“(In) this we wanted him to be involved and he wanted to be involved. He’s not in the first movie, but I hope Jim shows up somewhere along the way. He is currently involved as an executive producer and I hope we can work with him in some way in the future on the trilogy,” Macdonald said.

Of course, it’s not all bad news. There’s still hope that Murphy will appear later in the trilogy, either as a cameo or – fingers crossed – in a much bigger role. But I can’t help but worry.

Why I’m Worried About the Future of ’28 Years Later’

28 YEARS LATER – Official Trailer (HD) – YouTube
28 YEARS LATER - Official Trailer (HD) - YouTube

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I’m not saying that the new “28 Years Later” trilogy cannot do without Cillian Murphy. Yes, Jim played a huge role in the first film, but that doesn’t mean he’s key to the franchise’s development. Instead, it could offer a sense of familiarity in the upcoming trilogy, and it’s this kind of nostalgia that could make the trilogy even better.

Murphy’s absence from the first film in the trilogy is… fragment disturbing because his character, Jim, was the heart of 28 Days Later. His performance grounded the chaos with a deeply human perspective, and without him, the story risks losing some of the emotional connection and continuity that fans love. That’s not to say that fresh faces and new stories can’t bring new energy to the series. I’m optimistic that Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer and Ralph Fiennes will deliver performances that make their characters equally iconic.

What does However, my concern is whether the trilogy will even be completed if 28 Years Later doesn’t get the reception it needs. The plan is ambitious: starting with Danny Boyle’s “28 Years Later,” then Nia DaCosta’s “28 Years Later: Temple of Bones” (which has already finished production), and ending with a third film, again directed by Boyle .

However, the final chapter won’t go into production until audiences respond to the first film. Saving Jim’s return for the grand finale makes sense, but if this trilogy fails to gain traction, Murphy may never get the chance to reprise his iconic role.

Cillian Murphy as Jim

(Photo: Alamy Collection / RGR)

Screenwriter Alex Garland said Empire: “It’s very narratively ambitious. Danny and I understood it. We tried to condense it, but its natural form made it feel like a trilogy.

I’m one of those people who absolutely hates when franchises are left incomplete. I understand that financial problems can derail things when the first or second film doesn’t do well, but I still feel so empty. “Percy Jackson” was a huge disappointment for me, as were “The Amazing Spider-Man” and “The Chronicles of Narnia.” These franchises never had the chance to complete their stories, and I really hope that 28 Years Later doesn’t share the same fate.

That said, all we can do is wait to see how this trilogy unfolds. Who knows, maybe you will surprise us nicely and Cillian Murphy will unexpectedly appear in “28 Years Later”. It wouldn’t be the first time fan theories were dismissed, only to turn out to be true, like when Tobey Maguire and Andrew Garfield shocked viewers in “Spider-Man: No Way Home.”

For now, we have to wait until “28 Years Later” hits the big screen June 20, 2025. In the meantime, you can visit again ’28 Days Later’ now available for streaming ON Amazon.