Cillian Murphy Reacts to Fans Mistaking Him for the ‘Emaciated Infected’ in 28 Years Later Trailer

When the first trailer for Danny Boyle’s 28 Years Later dropped late last year, eagle-eyed fans thought they spotted a familiar face lurking among the undead: Cillian Murphy.

A brief shot showed an emaciated zombie rising from the ground, and given Murphy’s drastic weight loss for his Oscar-winning role in Oppenheimer, speculation quickly spread online that the actor had secretly reprised his role in the new sequel. Even some media outlets wondered aloud if the gaunt figure was the 28 Days Later star.

The truth? The so-called “Emaciated Infected” was actually played by Angus Neill, an art dealer-turned-model talent-spotted by Boyle for his distinctive look.

Cillian Murphy says it’s “very flattering” fans thought he was the gaunt zombie in the 28 Years Later trailer — even his son made sure he knew.

People thought the Emaciated Infected from the 28 Years Later trailer was Cillian Murphy. Image credit: Sony Pictures.

Murphy’s response

Now, in a new interview with The Observer, Murphy has finally addressed the rumor. The “chronically offline” actor admitted he wouldn’t have known about the viral chatter if not for his son.

“That’s great people think I look like a zombie cadaver,” Murphy said with trademark dry humor. “It’s very flattering.”

Fans mistook Cillian Murphy for the ‘Emaciated Infected’ in 28 Years Later. The actor jokes it’s flattering — and teases his minor role in the sequel.

Looking ahead to The Bone Temple

While Murphy didn’t appear in 28 Years Later, he is confirmed to return in its sequel, The Bone Temple, in what he described as a “minor role” designed to set up a larger appearance in the planned third film.

“I’m only in it for a little bit,” Murphy teased. “Everyone’s got to go and see the second one. I’m sure they will — it’s really, really good.”