28 Years Later: The Future of the Franchise and Cillian Murphy's Potential Return

28 Years Later: The Future of the Franchise and Cillian Murphy's Potential Return

28 Years Later was intended to be a trilogy of sequels to the original 28 Days Later. The second installment, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, did not perform as well as expected at the box office, grossing $56.9 million worldwide on a $63 million production budget. Despite this, fans were excited to see Cillian Murphy's character, Jim, make an appearance at the end of the film, hinting at a potential continuation of his story in the final installment of the franchise.

Deadline has reported that a third film in the 28 Years Later series is currently in development. While it was suggested that Cillian Murphy's character might play a significant role in the upcoming movie, the official plot details have not been revealed yet. In an interview with The Times, Murphy expressed his willingness to return for the third film, stating, "Hope so! I'm ready anyway."

Addressing rumors about his involvement in the HBO television adaptation of the Harry Potter series, Murphy denied the speculation, emphasizing that he is not playing Voldemort. He also shared his discomfort with the celebrity lifestyle and the pressures of being in the public eye, highlighting his preference for a more private and grounded existence.

Despite its underwhelming box office performance, some critics, like Chris Bumbray, praised 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple for its improvement over the first film. Bumbray commended the cast, particularly Jack O'Connell and Ralph Fiennes, and highlighted the compelling performances of Emma Laird and Erin Kellyman. He encouraged viewers to give the sequel a chance, noting its significant improvement in storytelling and character development.