Cillian Murphy's Son Made Sure the Chronically Offline Actor Knew People Thought He Was the Emaciated Infected in the 28 Years Later Trailer: 'That's Great People Think I Look Like a Zombie Cadaver'

Cast your caput backmost to December 2024, and the merchandise of the debut trailer for 28 Years Later. Fans thought they spotted Cillian Murphy, prima of Danny Boyle’s 28 Days Later, concisely look arsenic an emaciated zombie successful the promo.

A little changeable successful the trailer shows an incredibly skinny zombie rising up from the ground. The Oppenheimer prima was listed arsenic enforcement shaper of 28 Years Later, with 1 Sony enforcement teasing his quality “in a astonishing mode and successful a mode that grows.” Murphy had deed the headlines for his punishing fare portion playing Oppenheimer successful Christopher Nolan’s cardinal dollar biopic, a relation helium mislaid important value for. So fans saw this zombie, whose look looked a spot similar Murphy’s, and enactment 2 and 2 together. They weren’t the lone ones — the property wondered if it was Murphy, too.

People thought the Emaciated Infected from the 28 Years Later trailer was Cillian Murphy. Image credit: Sony Pictures.

Soon after, it emerged this zombie wasn’t Murphy, but an creation trader that manager Danny Boyle talent-spotted. According to The Guardian, the zombie successful question, aka 'Emaciated Infected,' was played by a newcomer called Angus Neill. Neill is an creation trader and exemplary who was formed by manager Danny Boyle owed to his distinctive looks, specified arsenic his 28-inch waist.

Fast guardant to September 2025 and a caller interrogation with Murphy by The Observer, and we yet person a effect from the antheral himself. Perhaps unexpectedly, the “chronically offline” Murphy sounded non-plussed astir the full thing, though helium did uncover that his lad made definite helium was alert of Emaciated Infected and the information radical thought it was him.

“That’s large radical deliberation I look similar a zombie cadaver,” Murphy was quoted arsenic saying, seemingly dryly. “It’s precise flattering.”

Cillian Murphy astatine the UK premiere of Oppenheimer successful London successful 2023. Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP via Getty Images.

While Murphy wasn’t successful 28 Years Later, helium volition prima successful its sequel, The Bone Temple, albeit successful a insignificant relation designed to acceptable up a much important engagement successful the 3rd movie successful the planned trilogy. Murphy played bicycle courier Jim successful 28 Days Later, truthful it volition beryllium absorbing to spot however the quality ends up successful 28 Years Later.

Murphy told The Observer he’s “only successful it for a small bit,” and the 3rd movie’s merchandise depends upon the occurrence of its predecessor. “Everyone’s got to spell and spot the 2nd one,” helium said. “I’m definite they volition — it’s really, truly good.”

Last week, we got the debut trailer for 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, showing Ralph Fiennes’ Dr. Kelson struggling to past successful the post-apocalyptic sequel.

The trailer shows disconnected a fig of returning characters that prime up wherever the... eyebrow raising ending of 28 Years Later near off, and Dr. Kelson appears to person discovered idiosyncratic (something?) who mightiness alteration everything.

28 Years Later had a decent tally astatine the container office, earning $150.4 cardinal globally. And it saw affirmative reviews, too. IGN's 28 Years Later reappraisal returned a 9/10. We said: "28 Years Later is arsenic potent and timely an exploration of taste strife arsenic the original, and Danny Boyle and Alex Garland tug astatine the heartstrings with bloody, deadly skill.”

Wesley is Director, News astatine IGN. Find him connected Twitter astatine @wyp100. You tin scope Wesley astatine [email protected] oregon confidentially astatine [email protected].