This week’s eye-catching 28 Years Later trailer featured a zombie that looked like it could be Cillian Murphy reprising his role from the first film. But it turns out it’s actually an art dealer director Danny Boyle talent-spotted.
A brief shot in the trailer shows an incredibly skinny zombie rise up from the ground, a member of the undead who bears a striking resemblance to Murphy. The Oppenheimer star is down as executive producer of 28 Years Later and confirmed to reprise his role, but, as one Sony executive has teased, “in a surprising way and in a way that grows.”
28 Days Later was one of Murphy’s breakout roles back in 2002. He played Jim, a bicycle courier who woke from a coma to find himself in a post-apocalyptic London after an aggression-inducing virus led to the breakdown of society. Murphy didn't return for 2007's 28 Weeks Later, which followed a different cast of characters.
The internet reacted with a mix of excitement and horror at the prospect that the zombie in the 28 Years Later trailer was Cillian Murphy, given it would have confirmed a sad fate for the star of the first film. But alas, the mystery continues.
According to The Guardian, the zombie in question - aka “Emaciated Infected” - is played by a newcomer called Angus Neill. Neill is an art dealer and model who was cast by director Danny Boyle due to his distinctive looks, such as his 28-inch waist.
Confirmed cast for 28 Years Later include Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jack O’Connell, Alfie Williams, and Ralph Fiennes. Here's the official synopsis:
Academy Award-winning director Danny Boyle and Academy Award-nominated writer Alex Garland reunite for 28 Years Later, a terrifying new story set in the world created by 28 Days Later. It’s been almost three decades since the rage virus escaped a biological weapons laboratory, and now, still in a ruthlessly enforced quarantine, some have found ways to exist amidst the infected. One such group of survivors lives on a small island connected to the mainland by a single, heavily-defended causeway. When one of the group leaves the island on a mission into the dark heart of the mainland, he discovers secrets, wonders, and horrors that have mutated not only the infected but other survivors as well.
We first learned that 28 Years Later was officially greenlit back in January alongside plans for the revival to be a trilogy. What's more, IGN had previously learned that The Marvels and Candyman director Nia DaCosta has been in talks to direct the second movie of the trilogy.
Wesley is the UK News Editor for IGN. Find him on Twitter at @wyp100. You can reach Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.
