It’s no secret that Cillian Murphy is making a comeback in the acclaimed zombie series that catapulted him to fame with “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple.” Director Danny Boyle,who first showcased Murphy’s talent in “28 Days Later,” has shared insights about this return after the actor notably did not appear in last year’s sequel,“28 Years Later” (it turns out he wasn’t the gaunt zombie seen rising from a field).
for those who wish to avoid spoilers regarding his appearance in Nia DaCosta‘s gory sequel — now showing through Sony pictures — it might be best to stop reading here.
Murphy indeed reprises his role as Jim, the bicycle courier who famously woke from a coma to find London ravaged by the Rage virus back in 2001. Though, his reappearance occurs only at the very end of this new installment — and during a notably quiet scene that contrasts sharply with the chaotic action of the preceding 90 minutes. For director nia DaCosta, working from Alex Garland’s screenplay, this was precisely what she aimed for.
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The film reaches its climax amid escalating chaos involving characters like Ralph Fiennes’ Dr. Kelson and Jack O’Connell’s Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal before making an unexpected transition to a serene setting where Murphy’s Jim is shown living in relative safety—likely at the same remote cottage he occupied at the conclusion of “28 Days Later.” Now 25 years later, he has a daughter whom we see him helping prepare for her history exam.
“The fact that Alex chose to depict him teaching his daughter history as part of his reintroduction into the story struck me as perfect,” DaCosta shares. “This approach grounds it; it’s not an over-the-top moment. I believe it’s powerful enough just seeing him again.”
This emotional return was impactful enough for audiences during early screenings that they erupted into applause.
A fascinating detail: audiences may recognize Murphy’s voice even earlier than expected. While crafting ”The Bone Temple,” DaCosta decided to incorporate sound elements from previous films into its title sequence. “We included audio clips so you can hear Cillian saying ‘Hello’ from the first movie,” she reveals. “So technically, he appears quite early on.”
Loyal fans will also appreciate nods to earlier installments; DaCosta utilized John Murphy’s haunting score piece “in a heartbeat” originally composed for “28 Days Later.”
“That was our biggest homage to franchise roots,” she notes.
The final moments of “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” featuring Murphy strongly suggests there are more stories ahead. Fortunately for fans, Sony has already approved plans for another sequel with Garland returning as writer.
DaCosta reflects on her experience creating this film: “It was incredibly enjoyable,” adding it was also influenced by her work on major projects like MCU’s “The Marvels” and an adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s play “Hedda.” However, when asked if she’d wont to direct another sequel herself:
“Danny called dibs,” she laughs.