- Primary Subject: 28 Years Later Part 3 (Cillian Murphy)
- Key Update: Danny Boyle revealed that 28 Years Later Part 3 is currently on the back burner due to financing and Alex Garland's busy schedule.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: October 12, 2026
- Quick Answer: Although Cillian Murphy is expected to return for the trilogy finale, the third movie is delayed as creators focus on other projects and secure funding.
Danny Boyle gives a disappointing 28 Years Later Part 3 update following Cillian Murphy's return as Jim, 26 years after leading the original 28 Days Later in 2002.
Murphy made an unexpected, uncredited cameo at the end of 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, confirming that Jim had survived the apocalypse and was homeschooling his daughter on a quiet, peaceful farm.
As many expect Jim to return in the third 28 Years Later installment to complete the trilogy, it looks like fans will have to wait a little longer before it finally happens.
Will 28 Years Later Part 3 Still Happen?
After surviving a gunshot wound inflicted by a rogue military officer and recovering at a Cumbrian cottage while waiting to signal a passing military plane at the end of 28 Days Later, Jim is back.
In 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, he rescues Spike (Alfie Williams) and Kelly (Erin Kellyman) as they run past his home while being chased by an infected.
But as fans await Jim’s return in the third 28 Years Later movie, Danny Boyle revealed that it would not happen just yet.
“It’s on the back burner at the moment,” he said at the London Film Festival (via Deadline).
The delay has something to do with financing and the creative team’s busy schedules. Boyle remains hopeful that the film will be made, although the financing still needs to be secured.
He also mentioned screenwriter Alex Garland’s busy schedule, as he is working on the live-action Elden Ring adaptation for A24, which he is both writing and directing.
“Alex has been off doing his own film, which is a huge project,” he said.
While Jim’s return remains uncertain, fans will have to wait for Boyle and Garland to find the time and funding to bring the third installment to life.
Will Cillian Murphy Return in 28 Years Later Part 3?
While the future of 28 Years Later Part 3 remains uncertain, Danny Boyle previously promised that it would be “made” because “people keep asking about it.”
He also confirmed that Alex Garland had already written a “very good script” and that the film would have “a lot of Cillian Murphy in it.”
“Whether he’ll take his kit off anymore, that I don’t know. He’s got the Oscar now,” he continued (via Variety).
So far, details about 28 Years Later Part 3 remain unknown, but some theories suggest that it will follow original survivor Jim after his return in the previous movie.
Planned as the trilogy's final chapter, the film may feature Jim alongside Spike and Kelly as they navigate the post-apocalyptic Northern England in search of a potential cure.
The final film could also explore the early days of the Rage Virus outbreak and fill in the gaps in Jim’s story since the events of the 2002 original, potentially drawing on elements from the Aftermath graphic novels.
Until more details are confirmed, fans will have to wait for Boyle and Garland to reveal how Jim’s story will continue in the planned 28 Years Later Part 3.
Keep it locked on Epicstream, your go-to source for film, TV, and celebrity news!