28 Years Later 3 director Danny Boyle on Cillian Murphy and Naomie Harris roles | Films | Entertainment

Last night, Cillian Murphy attended the world premiere of 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple as executive producer.

It turns out the Oscar-winner also makes a cameo at the end as 28 Days Later’s Jim with his daughter, who he presumably had with Naomie Harris’ Selena.

This was revealed by 28 Years Later director Danny Boyle around the release of the 2025 film.

At the time, he teased that a third and final film in his and Alex Garland’s 28 Years Later trilogy was dependent on the box office of the first two films, which were shot back-to-back.

Well, even before The Bone Temple debuted in cinemas, Deadline reported Sony went ahead and greenlit 28 Years Later 3, following great reactions from early screenings of the second film.

Garland is currently writing the third film, while Murphy has been in talks negotiating his pay. Given his appearance at the premiere last night, we’d assume it’s all looking good for the production to go ahead. As for 28 Years Later 3’s plot, Boyle said at an Empire Q&A last year: “The whole idea of the third film is that it’ll be a film very much dominated by him. It’s been mapped out as a scenario. It’s just not been written yet.” He also confirmed at the time that he would return to direct the third film after Nia DaCosta stepped in for The Bone Temple.

Asked if Naomie Harris will reprise her 28 Days Later character in the third film, Boyle replied: “At the moment it’s just Cillian.” Given it was just Jim and his daughter in the final scene of The Bone Temple, our best bet is they left it open whether Selena is alive or dead, based on whether the film was greenlit (it has been) and whether Harris would be available (that remains to be seen).

28 Years Later 3 will presumably release no earlier than next year, with 2028 being a safer bet.