When we last reported on Cillian Murphy's return to Danny Boyle and Alex Garland's rage-fueled franchise, we debunked a fan theory that the 2024 Oscar winner had signed on to appear as a zombie in "28 Years Later." Yes, the emaciated figure rising from the field in the film's first trailer looked a bit like the actor, but this undead character is actually portrayed by a strikingly thin performer, Angus Neal.

This sent movie fans back to square one with their harmlessly wild speculation about how Murphy would reprise his role as Jim in the long-awaited third installment of the series - the first since 2007's 28 Weeks Later. For some, this came as a relief; While it might be fun for the moment to write an out-of-universe Murphy as a zombie, surely Jim deserves better. After all, we experienced the horror of 28 days later via his WTF, just-awakened-from-a-coma-to-find-myself-in-the-apocalypse perspective. If Jim is still alive all these years later, we'd like to see him as a survivor. Whether living in this reality sharpens his wit or makes him completely mad is up to Boyle and Garland, but damn, do right by this guy.

If you're still worried about Jim's role in 28 Years Later, I have ... good news? At the very least, you can take comfort in knowing that Murphy won't be playing a zombie this time around — at least, not yet.

According to a new Empire interview with "28 Years Later" producer Andrew Macdonald, Murphy won't be in "28 Years Later" at all, though he hopes Jim will return to the franchise in the future. "He's not in the first movie, but hopefully there will be some Jim somewhere down the line," he said. Will that future look come Nia Dacosta has already been shot 28 Days Later: The Bone Temple, due out in 2026, or the unfinished cap of the proposed trilogy (which won't move forward until Sony can assess the box office performance of 28 Years Later), we will have to wait and see.

As for why the fandom is convinced that Murphy will be in 28 Years Later despite the fact that he was never officially announced as a cast member and has no credit on the poster, blame reddit and Sony chief Tom Rothman. After pictures surfaced of Murphy wandering around the set of the sequel in street clothes, rumors began to circulate among fans that Jim would make another appearance. Rothman then told Deadline that Murphy would be in the film "but in a surprising way and a growing way."

Is it possible that McDonald's is lying to cover up a big surprise? Maybe. You never want to film a dirty pool with your fans, but if Murphy's involvement is a shocking revelation in the third act it worksthen you go ahead and lie. All is forgiven if you deliver the goods. Here's hoping that's exactly what Boyle, Garland and, who knows, maybe Murphy do when 28 Days Later hits theaters on June 20, 2025.