28 Years Later follows the story of the devastated land from the first two installments in the franchise, where chaos and blood have replaced any trace of society. After the release of the first official trailer, a doubt emerged on the zombie horizon: Is that emaciated, perfect-jawed infected person Cillian Murphy or not?
For fans, the possibility of seeing Jim—once the symbol of hope from the first film—re-emerging now as a creature of the apocalypse is a twist as tempting as a Teletubby watching the end of the world. But is the truth behind this scene that simple? Spoiler: no.
And here's the masterstroke: Murphy is indeed in the cast, but the trailer hides his presence almost Machiavellian, leaving the audience lost between speculations and far-fetched theories.
According to a publication by The Guardian, the zombie-looking creature is not Murphy. The creature is an upcoming actor, Angus Neill.
Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers for 28 Years Later. Reader discretion is advised.
The trailer that shook the internet
In less than two minutes, the 28 Years Later trailer combined nostalgia and pure terror. It begins with a disturbing scene: children watching Teletubbies while chaos unfolds in the background. Blood stains the screen, survivors fight for their lives, and a small isolated community emerges as the last bastion of hope.
But the atmosphere of mystery only increases as the trailer progresses, revealing piles of bones, possible dark secrets, and a fleeting glimpse of an emaciated zombie that stole the scene.
The "emaciated zombie" is scary, magnetic, and intriguingly familiar, and his brief appearance triggered a wave of theories on social media, with many speculating that he would be played by Cillian Murphy—thus making Jim's return in a dark twist. But here's the trick: the infected role is played by Angus Neill, a newcomer discovered by Danny Boyle. As Neill revealed:
"Danny told me he'd always had me in mind for the role... Working with him on the film was a very, very intense experience."
This revelation, however, did not erase Murphy's presence in the film. On the contrary, it was an intentional move to redirect focus to suspense and leave the audience hungry for more details about his role.
Cillian Murphy is back—but not as an infected
While the "emaciated zombie" is not Cillian Murphy, the good news is that the actor returns to the franchise surprisingly. Tom Rothman, president of Sony Motion Pictures Group, promised:
"Cillian Murphy returns in a surprising way and in a way that grows."
Although details about his role remain top secret, this statement has already reignited fans' enthusiasm for Cillian's return to the franchise.
Moreover, Murphy also takes on the role of executive producer—signaling his deep involvement with the franchise. With Danny Boyle and Alex Garland at the helm, and Murphy contributing both creatively and narratively, we can expect 28 Years Later to honor the series' legacy and give us more adventure, suspense, and surprises.
The zombie choice is a masterstroke
The decision not to immediately reveal Murphy's participation and instead use Angus Neill as the "emaciated zombie" was a brilliant move that fueled theories and discussions while maintaining the focus on the film's suspense and atmosphere. It was a reminder that the 28 Days Later franchise never settled for the obvious.
While the trailer provoked intense reactions, the audience was guided by a narrative manipulated with precision. As Tom Rothman highlighted, 28 Years Later is not "in any way a literal sequel," an approach that allows the story to walk in unexpected directions.
The evolution of the 28 Days Later universe
More than a horror film, 28 Years Later is an ambitious expansion of the universe initiated in 2002. With an isolated community living on an island connected to the continent by a single bridge, the film explores the impact of decades of isolation in a world devastated by infection. What was once about survival now becomes a deeper reflection of humanity.
The plot also suggests mutations in both the infected and the survivors, adding complexity to the terror, thus addressing the physical and psychological changes. Set to be more than a trilogy, with the already announced 28 Years Later Part II: The Bone Temple, the universe of the franchise is set to become a huge canvas for stories with a mix of horror and introspection.
Conclusion: A new chapter, old emotions
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Although the trailer's "emaciated zombie" is not Cillian Murphy, his presence in the film is confirmed and promises surprises beyond the obvious. The decision to hide his true role while using Angus Neill as bait is a move that reaffirms Danny Boyle's talent for manipulating expectations.
With Murphy back in a crucial role, the direction of Boyle and Garland, and the already announced fourth installment in the franchise, 28 Years Later has everything to become a landmark in the genre. As the provocative tagline asks, "What will humanity become?"—perhaps the answer lies less in the infected and more in the choices humans make. After all, in the apocalypse created by cinema masters, the true monster is always more than it appears.
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