Cillian Murphy Is Not in ‘28 Years Later’

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Despite rumors to the contrary, Cillian Murphy is not in 28 Years Later.

The movie’s producer, Andrew Macdonald, shared with Empire Magazine that director Danny Boyle had hoped to bring back Cillian Murphy from the original film “28 Days Later” (released in 2002) for this new film. Unfortunately, plans didn’t materialize this time around. However, there’s a possibility that Murphy could join the cast of one of the upcoming sequels being developed currently.

McDonald stated that they desired his participation, and he expressed a similar desire. Unfortunately, he’s not part of the initial movie, but I’m optimistic about possibly including Jim at some point.

Murphy is the protagonist Jim from the film “28 Days Later”, who wakes up from a coma in an emptied London, ravaged by a viral outbreak causing people to transform into zombie-like beings. Despite this, he successfully escapes the city and manages to stay alive (although not consistently so in some of the movie’s alternative endings; director Boyle eventually opted for a happier conclusion over the more somber ones he initially favored).

As a dedicated cinephile, I’ve been eagerly anticipating the release of “28 Years Later.” Initial whispers suggested that Murphy might make an appearance in a supporting role, but as it turns out, those rumors were just that – rumors. Contrary to popular speculation online, the striking zombie glimpsed in the trailer for “28 Years Later” isn’t our beloved Murphy, but rather, the film boasts stars like Jodie Comer, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and Ralph Fiennes.

28 years after its initial release, the movie titled “28 Years Later” is set to hit theaters on June 20th. This is the first installment of a planned trilogy; the second film, “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple,” has already been filmed. There’s a possibility that Murphy might be featured in the next film or even the final third movie. (Macdonald also mentioned, “I would hope we can collaborate with him in some way in the future.”)

80s Movies That Could Never Be Made Today

Big (1988)

In this movie, although viewers’ recollections may vary, let me share the actual events: Tom Hanks portrays an older version of Josh Baskin, a 12-year-old boy who made a wish to become big at a carnival game. The wish was granted by a fortune teller machine, and Hanks’ character, now grown up, leaves home for New York City where he secures a job at a toy company. The plot becomes peculiar when Josh manages to deceive his family into believing he has been kidnapped for months, all while enjoying life in a luxurious Soho apartment. He even develops romantic feelings for one of his colleagues (Elizabeth Perkins’ character). Although it’s not explicitly shown on screen, the relationship between a 12-year-old and Perkins’ character is heavily implied to be adult in nature. This movie was a massive box office success and catapulted Tom Hanks into becoming America’s beloved heartthrob. The 1980s were indeed an unusual decade.

Can’t Buy Me Love (1987)

80’s films often featured socially awkward individuals attempting to gain acceptance into popular circles through deception or money. In the movie “Can’t Buy Me Love”, this was portrayed by the character played by Patrick Dempsey, who used a thousand dollars he had saved for a telescope to instead bribe a popular girl (Amanda Peterson) into pretending they were dating. The charade was successful, and soon Dempsey’s character became so cool that he started behaving like an arrogant jerk towards others. It seems as though the movie’s underlying message – suggesting that money can buy love and people will forgive even poor behavior if one believes they are essentially good – might not resonate positively in today’s society.

Dream a Little Dream (1989)

In a more light-hearted sequence where Corey Feldman imitates Michael Jackson’s style to win affection, the movie “Dream a Little Dream” presents an unusual and uncomfortable subplot. This plot revolves around a high school girl named Lainie (Meredith Salenger), who is involved in a harmful relationship with an abusive boyfriend. A different boy from school (Corey Feldman, though he’s essentially possessed by an elderly man portrayed by Jason Robards) develops feelings for her and tries to help her escape the toxic relationship. This storyline follows typical body-swap comedy elements until Lainie’s parents take the abusive boyfriend’s side over their own daughter. They threaten to relocate the entire family to a new town because she refused to give in to the boyfriend’s advances after he assaulted her. In an astonishing twist, Lainie’s mother drugs her own daughter, supposedly to protect her from trouble. This plotline is so disturbing that the film warranted a sequel.

Heathers (1989)

In 1989, the idea of high school students harming or even killing each other wasn’t as sensitive an issue as it is today. A movie called “Heathers,” which tells the story of a girl (Winona Ryder) and her boyfriend (Christian Slater) trying to kill their school rivals in ways that make it look like suicides, was seen as dark satire about teenage cliques back then. Nowadays, violent behavior among kids isn’t something we find amusing; it’s a sad reality. Despite this, “Heathers” still enjoys enough popularity that filmmakers have attempted to modernize it in various ways. Interestingly, when the Paramount Network tried to reboot “Heathers” for television a few years ago, they struggled to do so due to real-life school shootings. The premiere was delayed multiple times because of these events. Eventually, the show did air, but it was heavily edited; the final episode was actually a combination of the last two episodes.

Back in 1989, a movie called “Heathers” made fun of high school students killing each other. Today, it’s not funny at all because it happens too often in real life. Even though people still want to remake this movie, they haven’t been able to do so without facing issues related to actual school shootings. When the Paramount Network tried to make a TV show based on “Heathers,” they faced delays due to real-life incidents and had to heavily edit it before airing.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)

In the initial sequel of “Indiana Jones”, our hero, along with his companions, encounter an Indian cult called Thuggee, which has forcefully conscripted children from a neighboring village to labor in a mine. The mine’s entrance is concealed within a palace where Indy is invited for a chilling dinner featuring exotic dishes like snakes and monkey brains. This rather unfavorable (and misleading) portrayal of Indian culture and cuisine has certainly been a topic of discussion in recent times. Additionally, the film was so intense that it left many young viewers feeling uneasy, leading to the introduction of the PG-13 rating by the MPAA for movies that were too mature for a PG rating but not quite suitable for an R rating. Can you envision a modern family movie featuring a villain who brutally tears out people’s hearts in broad daylight?

In this rephrased version, I attempted to make it more natural and easy to read while maintaining the original context and essence of the passage.

Revenge of the Nerds (1984)

As a cinephile reflecting on this classic comedy, I must express my disappointment in its portrayal of outsiders. The movie seems to harbor an unexpectedly harsh undertone, littered with offensive humor that includes homophobic and racist remarks. A significant part of the plot revolves around a fraternity of nerds seeking revenge on a sorority through questionable means such as invasive surveillance and house raids.

The climax unfolds when the leader of the nerds, in an act of deception, disguises himself as a popular girl’s boyfriend and subsequently engages in sexual relations with her under false pretenses. It’s worth noting that this character’s actions are far from consensual or ethical, yet she falls instantly in love.

Attempts at remaking this film in the mid-2000s faltered at the last minute before production began. Given its problematic themes and outdated perspective, it’s not hard to see why. In today’s world, a gritty reboot that critiques the idea of rewarding nerds with love, fame, or success simply because they faced bullying from jocks might be the only way this movie could resonate in the 21st century.

Short Circuit (1986)

Perhaps you recall Short Circuit, a delightful comedy about an unintentionally self-aware robot challenging its military programming. However, if it’s been a while since you last watched, you might not remember that the significant side character, the roboticist Ben Jabituya, was portrayed by a white actor, Fisher Stevens, using brownface makeup. This role became so well-liked that Stevens was promoted to the (non-robot) leading role in the sequel, Short Circuit 2. Remarkably popular as it was in the 1980s, Stevens has since expressed regret about the part, stating that it continues to bother him and he would not reprise the character again.

Sixteen Candles (1984)

John Hughes was famously known for creating humorous, insightful depictions of teenagers in movies such as The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, and Sixteen Candles. However, it is important to note that this sensitivity did not always extend to all characters and situations in his films. For instance, the character Long Duk Dong from Sixteen Candles seems to embody numerous Asian stereotypes and has sparked criticism over the years. This criticism extends beyond the character’s portrayal of Asian stereotypes; Hughes’ work has also been critiqued for its treatment of women and casual homophobia, which have since marked his films as representative of their time but not necessarily acceptable in today’s society. Molly Ringwald, a star from Sixteen Candles, later acknowledged the character of Long Duk Dong as a “grotesque stereotype” in a New Yorker essay that delved deeper into these issues.

Soul Man (1986)

In 1986, an unexpected comedy titled “Soul Man” was produced. In this film, the protagonist, Mark (played by C. Thomas Howell), is a self-indulgent college student who manages to secure a spot at Harvard Law School, only to find out his wealthy father won’t cover the tuition costs. Desperate for financial aid, Mark finds a scholarship intended for African American students and decides to pass himself off as one. He does this by taking an excessive amount of tanning pills and wearing a wig. Amazingly, this questionable disguise works, albeit temporarily. Although the film seems to have good intentions – it appears to mock Mark’s naivety rather than glorifying his deception – much of the humor falls flat due to its insensitive and outdated nature. It’s more likely that we’ll see a remake of “Gigli” in the 2020s than “Soul Man”.

Zapped! (1982)

In the film “Zapped!”, a teenager named Barney, portrayed by Scott Baio, acquires telekinetic powers following a botched science experiment. Instead of using his newfound abilities responsibly, he spends much of the movie humiliating the women in his life, including those who are kind to him. This includes forcibly removing their clothes in public. While it’s not uncommon for movies to explore themes of sexual desire, “Zapped!” crosses a line by portraying abuse as comedic.

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2025-01-14 03:37