Ralph Fiennes, known for his roles in the Harry Potter series and Schindler’s List, has expressed strong admiration for Cillian Murphy as the Irish actor returns to the post-apocalyptic franchise with the latest installment of 28 Years Later. Murphy reprises his role decades later in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, which hits cinemas today, continuing the story set in a world devastated by a virulent, rage-inducing virus.
The Evolution of the 28 Years Later Franchise
The 28 Years Later franchise began with the 2002 film starring Cillian Murphy as Jim, a bicycle courier who awakens from a coma to discover society’s collapse after the virus outbreak. The storyline expanded with the sequel 28 Days Later in 2007, and now the franchise has advanced to 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, directed by Nia DaCosta. This latest film explores a mythic and ritualistic world where the infected have evolved, creating a new, powerful breed called Alphas.
The Roles of Ralph Fiennes and Cillian Murphy in the New Film
In this new chapter, Fiennes returns as Kelson, a mysterious doctor working to develop a cure for the virus, while Murphy’s character Jim remains a central but mostly secretive figure. Details about Murphy’s specific role are tightly guarded; however, director Danny Boyle revealed that Jim will reappear near the end of The Bone Temple, setting the stage for the fifth film in the franchise.
A Closer Look at Character Dynamics and Themes
28 Years Later: The Bone Temple introduces younger characters like Spike, a teenager played by Alfie Williams, who ventures from his island home off the Northern England coast to the infected mainland. Spike becomes entangled with a violent gang known as the Jimmys, a cult-like group led by Jimmy, portrayed by Jack O’Connell. Meanwhile, Kelson forms an unexpected relationship with Samson, an Alpha male infected with the virus, played by former MMA fighter Chi Lewis Parry.
Exploring Kelson and Samson’s Complex Connection
Fiennes described Kelson’s intrigue with Samson as both professional and personal. Initially, Kelson’s interest is scientific, to see if Samson is capable of communication and empathy despite his infection. Over time, a surprising bond develops between them, bridging the divide between infected and uninfected individuals in a Britain still gripped by the virus.
Cillian’s amazing. He is one of the great screen actors around today. I am a huge admirer and fan of his and I would love the opportunity to work with him.
– Ralph Fiennes, Actor
It’s all linked to Cillian and with his agreement, we didn’t connect directly to that first film from 2002.
– Danny Boyle, Director
Cillian’s character, Jim, will reappear and in fact he will appear at the end of The Bone Temple to take us into the fifth film and that will be his film, really. 28 years have passed and something is the same and something is very different. That’s all I can tell you . . .
– Danny Boyle, Director
Then we find out, yes he can communicate and on top of that, he starts to find a friendship in this besieged county that is Britain, which is still gripped by this terrible pandemic.
– Ralph Fiennes, Actor
People are engorged with rage and suddenly across the divide, between an uninfected and an infected man, you would think there is no possibility but what is happening is that something inside Samson’s brain is awoken and there is a bonding.
– Ralph Fiennes, Actor
What This Means for the Future of the Series
The integration of Murphy’s character hints at a significant connection between the early films and this expanding universe, with new themes of evolution, ritual, and survival enhancing the tense atmosphere. The Bone Temple deepens the lore of the virus and the factions emerging in its aftermath, promising a darker, more complex narrative as the franchise moves towards its fifth installment.
For fans of the series, Murphy’s return is a moment of anticipation and intrigue, with Fiennes’s commendation underscoring Murphy’s enduring talent and importance to the franchise’s legacy. With the film now available in cinemas, audiences can immerse themselves in this tense and restless world, where the line between infection and humanity blurs amid ongoing chaos.
