Oscar-nominated actor Ralph Fiennes has set the record straight on Cillian Murphy’s involvement in the upcoming "28 Years Later" film.
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," with the confirmed cast and crew biting their tongues when it comes to the subject.
Speaking to Extra.ie at the opening gala of The Dublin International Film Festival, "Conclave" star Fiennes revealed he’s ‘signed his life away’ when it comes to discussing the project.
"Well, Cillian is a great actor, but he’s not in the film I’m in," the star laughed when quizzed on the topic.
"He might be in another film later. I’m not allowed to say too much," the Oscar nominee teased.
"I’ve signed my life away."
Cillian Murphy fans were left fearing the worst as the trailer for the long-awaited "28 Days Later" sequel was released, and the Irish actor was nowhere to be seen.
Co-starring Naomie Harris, Christopher Eccleston, and Murphy’s fellow Irishman Brendan Gleeson, the first film in the franchise grossed a staggering $84.7 million on a budget of just $8 million.
A sequel, titled "28 Weeks Later," was released in 2008, However, neither Murphy nor Boyle had anything to do with the film which follows Jeremy Renner’s US Army sergeant.
With fans waiting over 20 years to see what happened to Murphy’s Jim after he settled down in a remote cottage with his fellow survivors, the trailer for "28 Years Later" dropped ahead of its release this June.
Prior to becoming an Academy Award winner in "Oppenheimer," Cork native Murphy introduced himself to audiences around the world in the zombie flick from "Trainspotting" director Danny Boyle.
Known for its iconic shot of Murphy walking through a deserted central London, the 2002 film follows his bicycle courier who wakes up from a coma to find that a highly contagious, aggression-inducing virus has caused the breakdown of society.
Starring "Killing Eve’s" Jodie Comer, Ralph Fiennes, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Boyle’s return to the franchise follows a boy in northern England on a quest to rescue his mother.
The Dublin International Film Festival opened on Thursday night with a tour de force performance by Ralph Fiennes in Uberto Pasolini’s epic "The Return."
Welcoming the director and lead actor to Dublin, Festival Director Gráinne Humphreys said: "A much-loved friend of DIFF – it’s a real pleasure to invite Ralph Fiennes to Dublin to introduce his new film 'The Return,' directed by Uberto Pasolini.
"As a classics student – I have waited a long time for a film about Odysseus reuniting with his wife Penelope. This is a superb film with an incredible cast and well worth the wait."
Dublin International Film Festival will run from 20 February to 2 March 2025. Full festival programme and booking is available at DIFF.ie.
*This article was originally published on Extra.ie.
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