Danny Boyle Teases Cillian Murphy’s Big Return in the Third 28 YEARS LATER Film
Danny Boyle has some very good news for fans who have been waiting to see Cillian Murphy make a substantial return to the infected world of 28 Years Later. The filmmaker says the third movie is happening, Alex Garland already has a script, and Murphy will have a major role in it.
While appearing at the Zurich Film Festival, Boyle shared that he’s confident that the third chapter will get made, even if he doesn’t know exactly when production will get underway.
“‘28 Years 3,’ or whatever it ends up being called, will get made because people keep asking about it. Quite when I’m not sure, but there’s a script – a very good script by Alex Garland.”
Then came a little detail about the movie that should make longtime fans of the franchise very happy. “[It will have] a lot of Cillian Murphy in it. Whether he’ll take his kit off anymore, that I don’t know. He’s got the Oscar now.”
Murphy starred as Jim in Boyle’s 2002 horror classic 28 Days Later, waking from a coma to discover that Britain had been devastated by the Rage Virus. Jim became the audience’s way into this terrifying new world, and his story helped turn the movie into one of the defining horror films of its era.
Boyle also had a funny memory about filming Murphy all those years ago and being caught off guard by the actor’s physique.
“He’s gorgeous. When we took his kit off, I couldn’t believe it. He looked like Iggy Pop! Everything was glistening. Oh my God. He’s just one of those people. He doesn’t work out or anything like that: he just looks like that.”
It’s going to be great seeing Murphy properly return to this role. Jim is such an important part of the franchise, and after everything this world has become, I’m especially interested in seeing what all those years have shapped him.
What kind of man is Jim now? What has he had to do to survive? How much of the person we knew in 28 Days Later is still there? We did get a litlle taste of this The Bone Temple, but the next movie can fully explore him.
There’s a lot of history tied to Jim, and reconnecting with him could give the ending some real weight while bringing the franchise back around to the character who helped start it all.
Via: Variety