28 Years Later producer says Cillian Murphy will not make appearance despite reports

Cillian Murphy won’t be reprising his role as Jim in the highly anticipated sequel 28 Years Later, despite recent rumours claiming otherwise.

Producer Andrew Macdonald has shared the disappointing news, though he didn’t rule out a future appearance.

While he’s not part of the cast, he confirmed that Murphy will still act as an executive producer.

In a recent interview with Empire, Macdonald said, “[On] this, we wanted him to be involved and he wanted to be involved.”

“He is not in the first film, but I’m hoping there will be some Jim somewhere along the line. He’s involved at the moment as an executive producer, and I would hope we can work with him in some way in the future in the trilogy.“

Speculation about Cillian Murphy’s involvement in the film began after the release of the 28 Days Later trailer, where fans mistook an emaciated infected character for Murphy.

Director Danny Boyle has previously admitted that his partner predicted the mix-up.

He earlier said, “I showed my girlfriend the trailer, and she said, ‘People are going to think that’s Cillian.’ I dismissed it, but she was right.”

“I’ve had to eat some humble pie over that.”

The character in question was actually played by an extra, Angus Neill.

Directed by Danny Boyle and written by Alex Garland, the film is the third installment in the series that started with 2002’s 28 Days Later and continued with 2007’s 28 Weeks Later.

The official synopsis for 28 Years Later reads: “It’s been almost three decades since the rage virus escaped a biological weapons laboratory, and now, still in 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 leaves 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 cast of 28 Years Later includes Jodie Comer (The Bikeriders), Aaron Taylor-Johnson (The Fall Guy), Ralph Fiennes (Conclave), and Erin Kellyman (The Falcon and the Winter Soldier).