All You Need to Know About the Upcoming Horror Trilogy with Cillian Murphy (Aug 2024)

Cillian Murphy, future Red Eye star, already seemed destined for a bright future in cinema after 28 Days Later garnered him widespread recognition. This movie also placed him in the view of Christopher Nolan, leading to their successful collaborations including Oppenheimer. Despite the popularity of his later work, Murphy remains fond of his earlier projects, such as the one with Danny Boyle. He expressed his enthusiasm by hopping on board as a producer for the new project.

Positive updates soon followed, revealing that even though Cillian’s character didn’t appear in 28 Weeks Later, he will make a comeback in the upcoming 28 Years Later. This film is the first in a planned trilogy by the original team, including Boyle as the director and Alex Garland as the screenwriter, despite Garland steering away from directing. Here’s what we can expect from this crew revisiting their roots:

The announcement frenzy for 28 Years Later only intensified this past May. The film is set to be released next summer, signifying the determined pace at which the team is working. There are even unconfirmed reports suggesting filming has recently wrapped up, with a budget of $60 million compared to the $8 million for the original 2003 film. But take that information with a grain of salt.

This film was announced with much enthusiasm from Cillian Murphy. His character, Jim, has survived since the Rage Virus first struck humanity. Unlike the slow-moving zombies of The Walking Dead, the infected in this series are fast and ferocious, making survival even more grueling. Jodie Comer, aged 31, joins the cast, suggesting her character was just a child when the outbreak began. The cast and crew were confirmed to be filming mainly in an English forest and a tidal island, with some scenes in Newcastle.

Details about the plot remain tightly under wraps, although it’s confirmed that the world hasn’t healed over the years. Various leaked photos show Jodie Comer in distress, and she’s optimistic about the film’s reception. In an interview, Comer said she felt the movie has a “distinct and unique” feel. She acknowledged the original film’s cult status and noted she’s not putting too much expectation on herself. Her role will also showcase her knack for accents, as she will adopt a Geordie accent for this project.

Nia DaCosta, who directed the Candyman reboot, will take the director’s chair for the second film in the trilogy. There is speculation that the sequel may be titled Bone Temple, although that remains unconfirmed.

The cast for 28 Years Later features Jodie Comer and Aaron Taylor-Johnson as the leads, with Ralph Fiennes and Jack O’Connell in supporting roles. Jack O’Connell’s character will mainly lay groundwork for the second film, where he will take on a more significant part. Erin Kellyman, known for roles in The Falcon and the Winter Soldier and The Green Knight, has also joined the cast.

The film is scheduled to arrive in theaters on June 20, 2025. Given the relatively rapid timeline from announcement to release, a teaser trailer may drop sooner rather than later. Until then, it’s worth revisiting the hauntingly deserted London scenes from the original film and speculating if Boyle can recreate that sense of bleakness.