Nearly a quarter of a century after 28 Days Later redefined post-apocalyptic cinema, the franchise has reached a rare moment of reflection—and renewal. As 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple arrives in cinemas, one of its most talked-about elements isn’t only the evolution of the infected, but the return of the man who started it all: Cillian Murphy. Ahead of that return, co-star Ralph Fiennes has offered a strikingly warm tribute, calling Murphy “one of the great screen actors around today.”
Murphy first appeared in the original 28 Days Later as Jim, a bicycle courier who awakens from a coma to discover Britain collapsed under a rage-inducing virus. That performance—raw, bewildered, and increasingly feral—became a defining image of early-2000s cinema. Since then, Murphy’s career has expanded dramatically, culminating in an Academy Award win and a reputation for quiet intensity. His return to the franchise now carries both narrative and symbolic weight.
A Veteran’s Admiration
Speaking to RTÉ Entertainment, Fiennes—who reprises his role as the enigmatic doctor Kelson—did not hide his respect. “Cillian’s amazing,” he said. “He is one of the great screen actors around today. I am a huge admirer and fan of his, and I would love the opportunity to work with him.”
Coming from an actor whose own résumé includes Schindler’s List, Harry Potter, and Conclave, the praise landed with particular force. It also underscored how Murphy’s standing has shifted since 2002—from breakout lead to generational reference point.
A Carefully Guarded Return
Details of Murphy’s appearance in The Bone Temple remain tightly controlled. Director Danny Boyle, who co-created the series with Alex Garland, has revealed only that Jim will reappear at the end of the film, setting the stage for a fifth installment centered around him. “Twenty-eight years have passed,” Boyle teased, “and something is the same and something is very different.”
That restraint mirrors the franchise’s broader approach—using absence and anticipation as storytelling tools rather than nostalgia alone.
A Darker, Stranger World
Directed by Nia DaCosta, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple pushes the mythology further than ever. The infected have evolved into Alphas, a super-strong breed capable of rudimentary communication. Fiennes’ Kelson, a doctor searching for a cure, forms an unsettling bond with Samson, an Alpha played by former MMA fighter Chi Lewis-Parry.
Fiennes describes their relationship as the film’s emotional core—a fragile bridge between infected and uninfected. “You would think there is no possibility,” he explains, “but something inside Samson’s brain is awoken.”
A Passing of the Torch
With a new generation of characters introduced—alongside the imminent return of Jim—the 28 franchise finds itself balancing evolution and legacy. Fiennes’ public admiration captures that moment perfectly: a veteran actor acknowledging the quiet power of the man who once woke up alone in an empty hospital.
As Murphy prepares to reclaim his place in the saga, the series doesn’t just look forward. It remembers where it began—and why Jim’s return matters now more than ever.