- Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jodie Comer and more star in 28 Years Later
- Cillian Murphy is also expected to return
- Danny Boyle directs a new script by original screenwriter Alex Garland
28 Years Later is creeping closer and fans have been feverishly dissecting each and every detail about Danny Boyle’s long-awaited sequel.
As its title suggests, the follow-up picks up 28 Years after the events of Boyle’s 2002 original, 28 Days Later. In that film, Cillian Murphy’s bike courier Jim wakes up from a coma to find Britain engulfed in a viral pandemic that transforms everyone into rage-induced zombies.
Read more: What is the audio in the 28 Years Later trailer?
As you might expect, it’s not a pretty sight. After narrowly surviving the first film, the status of Jim is still unknown. Many believed they had spotted him in the film’s first trailer but that theory was later debunked.
That said, the teaser did give us some glimpses of the primary cast of 28 Years Later – but who exactly are they and how do they fit into the film?
Here’s what we know about the stars set to feature in 28 Years Later…
28 Years Later cast
A number of actors have been confirmed to appear in Boyle’s sequel but we don’t have character details for all of them.
Leading the way is Aaron Taylor-Johnson, an actor who shot to fame with roles in films like 2009’s Nowhere Boy and 2010’s Kick-Ass. Most recently, you may have seen him in action movies like 2022’s Bullet Train and 2024’s The Fall Guy and Kraven The Hunter.
In 28 Years Later, Taylor-Johnson will play Jamie, a survivor who lives in relative safety on an island separated from the virus-infected UK mainland by a heavily armoured bridge. 28 Years Later will see him venture off the island on some sort of mission, exposing himself – and others – to a range of dangers.
He’ll be joined by Killing Eve, Free Guy and The Bikeriders actor Jodie Comer but her role is currently under wraps. All we know for sure is that she will be a Geordie, with Comer confirming to Elle that she used former Girls Aloud singer Cheryl for accent inspiration.
Read more: All we know about 28 Years Later Part 2: The Bone Temple
Jack O’Connell will also star in an as-yet-unknown role. Audiences may have seen him in projects like Lady Chatterley’s Lover and SAS Rogue Heroes.
Harry Potter actor Ralph Fiennes will appear too but his role is still a mystery. In the movie’s first trailer, he can be seen covered in what appears to be dirt and blood walking towards a plinth made of skulls. While unconfirmed, his role could link to the movie’s follow-up, 28 Years Later Part 2: The Bone Temple.
Swedish actor Edvin Ryding will play another survivor named E. Sundqvist but it’s unclear how he’ll play into the overall plot. Solo: A Star Wars Story and star of the Willow TV series, Erin Kellyman, will also feature in a mystery role, alongside His Dark Materials actor Alfie Williams. His role is also unknown at this time.
The British MMA Fighter Chi Lewis-Parry is also confirmed to star in an unknown role. He previously worked with Taylor-Johnson in Kraven The Hunter.
Is Cillian Murphy in the movie?
One key name absent from most 28 Years Later cast rundowns is Murphy. While confirmed as the movie’s Executive Producer, it’s yet to be confirmed how he will fit into the overall story or if he’ll feature heavily in the first of this new two-parter.
Despite a lack of confirmations, it’s likely he’ll appear in 28 Years Later in some capacity. In fact, Sony Motion Pictures Group Chairman Tom Rothman told Deadline that he’ll pop-up “in a surprising way and in a way that grows.”
Intriguing.
Many people assumed the gaunt zombie featured in the film’s first trailer was Murphy having succumbed to the RAGE virus. However, this was quickly debunked and confirmed to be an art dealer-turned-actor named Angus Neill. 28 Years Later will mark his filmmaking debut.
