Cillian Murphy will not appear in 28 Years Later

Cillian Murphy will officially not return to the long-awaited 28 Years Later, the film’s producer confirmed.

Fans had been speculating whether the Irish actor would be reprising the role he played in Danny Boyle’s 2002 post-apocalyptic horror film 28 Days Later.

When the sequel's first trailer came out, some viewers were convinced that Murphy was appearing as a zombie. However, this claim has since been debunked.

Additionally, producer Andrew Macdonald just revealed that the actor would not appear in the new film, despite “wanting to be involved.” He will however act as executive producer.

“[On] this, we wanted him to be involved and he wanted to be involved,” Macdonald told Empire, suggesting that scheduling conflicts were to blame for his absence. The producer confirmed: “He is not in the first film.”

“I would hope we can work with him in some way in the future in the trilogy,” the producer added.

Murphy stars in 2002’s 28 Days Later as Jim, a bicycle courier who wakes from a coma to find the “Rage Virus” has decimated London. He didn’t appear in the 2007 sequel 28 Weeks Later either.

While the producer did not confirm his appearance, it has been reported that the Oppenheimer actor will play a large role in 28 Days Later: The Bone Temple, which has already been shot by director Nia Dacosta.

20 Years Later is set to hit cinemas on June 20.