Cillian Murphy as Jim on the Set of Danny Boyle’s 28 Years Later

Following the release of the first trailer for Danny Boyle‘s 28 Years Later, many who noticed a zombie in the trailer resembling Cillian Murphy speculated that he might be playing a zombie in the film. Nope! Murphy is returning as an older version of Jim.

During the filming of 28 Years Later in Northumberland, Murphy was spotted on set as an old man, hinting that his character is still alive. However, the trailer doesn’t show Murphy in any shot. Are they keeping his character a surprise? Check out the images below.

During an interview with IndieWire, Ralph Fiennes—who stars in the film—revealed plot details about the story.

Fiennes said, “28 Years Later centers on a young boy who wants to find a doctor to help his dying mother. He leads his mother through this beautiful northern English terrain. But, of course, around them—hiding in forests, hills, and woods—are the infected. However, he finds a doctor who is a man we might think is going to be weird and odd, but actually, is a force for good.”

The film stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Jamie, Jodie Comer, Fiennes, Jack O’Connell, Erin Kellyman, Alfie Williams, and Edvin Ryding as E. Sundqvist.

Directed by Boyle from a screenplay he co-wrote with Alex Garland, it is a sequel to 28 Days Later (2002) and 28 Weeks Later (2007)—the third installment overall in the 28 Days Later film series.

Here’s the official synopsis of 28 Years Later from Sony Pictures:

28 Years Later tells 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 under 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 ventures off 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.

The film is produced by Andrew Macdonald, Peter Rice, Bernard Bellew, Danny Boyle, and Alex Garland, with Cillian Murphy serving as the executive producer. It is a production of Columbia Pictures, DNA Films, BFI, and Decibel Films.

28 Years Later will hit theaters on June 20, 2025, distributed by Sony Pictures Releasing.