Danny Boyle Says Third 28 Years Later Film Features ‘A Lot Of Cillian Murphy’

The underperformance of the second 28 Years Later movie may have left some viewers concerned that a third instalment in Danny Boyle’s intended post-apocalyptic trilogy may not ever see the light of day.

However, the Oscar winner has insisted that fans of the franchise don’t need to worry.

Danny recently made an appearance at the Zurich Film Festival, where Variety quoted as saying: “28 Years 3, or whatever it ends up being called, will get made because people keep asking about it.”

“Quite when I’m not sure, but there’s a script – a very good script by Alex Garland,” he continued, referring to the screenwriter behind both 28 Years Later and its sequel, The Bone Temple.

As for what fans should expect from part three, Danny teased that there’ll be a “lot of Cillian Murphy”.

“Whether he’ll take his kit off anymore, that I don’t know,” he quipped. “He’s got the Oscar now.”

Cillian Murphy made a brief, uncredited appearance at the end of The Bone Temple, reprising his role from the very first film in the saga, 28 Days Later, and setting up the planned follow-up.

A sequel to 28 Days Later set – shocker – almost three decades after the outbreak of the so-called “Rage Virus”, 28 Years Later hit cinemas in the summer of 2025, and was met with critical acclaim and commercial success.

Just six months later, The Bone Temple also hit cinemas, having been shot back-to-back with the first instalment in what Danny intended to be a rebooted trilogy.

Danny remained as a producer on The Bone Temple, but handed directing duties over to Nia DaCosta.

While The Bone Temple was met with similarly glowing reviews, its box office takings weren’t quite as high, falling short of its projected opening weekend takings.

He claimed before the release of the first 28 Years Later movie that the plot for the trilogy was “outlined” but the team would have to “raise the money first” before they could get the wheels in motion.

“That will depend on how the first film performs,” the British filmmaker claimed.