28 Years Later cast and character guide: Who plays whom in the upcoming Zombie sequel

The third film of the 28 Days Later saga, 28 Years Later is set for a theatrical release on June 20, 2025. Sony Pictures Entertainment will oversee the distribution in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada.

Cillian Murphy will reprise his role as Jim alongside co-stars Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Jodie Comer. The first part of the post-apocalyptic zombie horror franchise hit the big screens back in 2002 followed by a sequel five years later.

As we fast forward to '28 Years Later', we now see a group of survivors stuck in a post-apocalyptic world where they embark on a journey to put an end to the vicious pandemic. However, in the first two installments, viewers mostly witnessed the outbreak and expansion of the virus that affected a huge global population, turning people into blood-thirsty zombies.

28 Years Later cast and character guide

Sony Pictures Entertainment dropped the first official trailer of the zombie threequel on December 10, 2024, where viewers got a confirmation on the release window. Shortly after, there has been much speculation on what the characters will look like and how the story continues with the group of survivors venturing out into the mainland.

(1) Cillian Murphy as Jim

A still from 28 Years Later | Image source: Sony Pictures Entertainment on YouTube

Cillian Murphy has been cast as Jim in 28 Years Later, where we see a short glimpse of a zombie in the official trailer bearing a close resemblance to his character. However, it has been said that the zombie in the trailer was not Cillian Murphy, fans have to wait for the revelation.

Murphy is best known for his role as Thomas Shelby in BBC's period thriller drama Peaky Blinders. He also recently received an Oscar for his work in Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer. The Peaky Blinders star played a crucial role in the first two movies (28 Days Later and 28 Weeks Later) as well and will act as an executive producer for the third installment.

(2) Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Jamie

As per reports, Aaron Taylor-Johnson will play one of the lead roles, Jamie, a survivor in the post-apocalyptic zombie-infested world who lives with his fellow survivors on a fortified remote piece of land. He initiates adventures into the mainland which is now inhabited by the deadly creatures.

The story revolves around his struggle as he tries to look for a way to end the apocalypse with basic equipment and weapons. Aaron Taylor-Johnson has won a Golden Globe Award for his notable work in Nocturnal Animals (2016)

Moreover, he has contributed to crucial roles in movies like The Illusionist (2006), Kick-Ass (2010), Tenet (2020), and The Fall Guy (2024). Aaron is also known for playing the character Pietro Maximoff in Marvel's Avengers: Age Of Ultron (2015).

(3) Jodie Comer

28 Years Later director Danny Boyle has not yet opened up on what role will Jodie Comer play in this zombie-horror spin-off, so viewers wait eagerly for her involvement in the plot to be revealed.

Jodie Marie Comer is an English actress who has gained popularity over the years owing to her work in My Mad Fat Diary and Doctor Foster. In 2021 she appeared in the Ryan Reynolds starrer Free Guy followed by Ridley Scott's period drama The Last Duel.

(4) Ralph Fiennes

The Academy Award-nominated actor Ralph Fiennes is known for his work in the 1993 Steven Spielberg classic Schindler's List. He got another nomination in 1996 for his work in the war drama movie The English Patient.

Though we do not have much idea about his character in 28 Years Later, he is seen appearing all red in the official trailer like he is a part of some tribal cult (as the background portrays). We are yet to know more about his contribution to the story.