According to Cillian Murphy, he didn’t think of “28 Days Later” as a zombie film when he got his big break in the film. Murphy spoke on the 2002 blockbuster movie “Oppenheimer,” for which he was nominated for an Oscar for the first time, at a filming of the SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s Conversations program.
Murphy Cillian Unaware that “28 Days Later” was a zombie film, the actor declares, “I’m Available” for a sequel
During their roughly ninety-minute December interview, Murphy discusses his extensive career in theatre and film. This includes collaborating with the film’s director Danny Boyle and writer Alex Garland. In the movie, he plays a guy who awakens from a coma 28 days after a virus that incites wrath has destroyed society.
“To be honest, I wasn’t too aware we were making a zombie movie,” Murphy admitted, not having seen any of the “Night of the Living Dead” films directed by George A. Romero. SARS was occurring at the same time as a lot of “air rage” incidents. I never considered it to be a zombie movie as a result. In addition, I’m glad I didn’t view the Romero flicks because I didn’t know they were considered sacred.
Murphy added that it wasn’t a common movie theme at the time. He remarked, “There weren’t that many zombie films before ’28 Days Later,’ it was kind of a dead genre,” which made the audience laugh at his inadvertent pun. Thus, Danny and Alex gave it a reboot.
“To be honest, I wasn’t too aware we were making a zombie movie,” Murphy admitted, not having seen any of the “Night of the Living Dead” films directed by George A. Romero. SARS was occurring at the same time as a lot of “air rage” incidents. I never considered it to be a zombie movie as a result. In addition, I’m glad I didn’t view the Romero flicks because I didn’t know they were considered sacred. “They were formative films for me,” he said. “Seeing them in a movie theatre gave me immense pleasure. I therefore really wanted [“28 Days Later”]. He determined that he held six interviews for the position.
When asked if he was anxious to play the lead in a movie alongside well-known performers like fellow Irishman Brendan Gleeson, Murphy replied that he was appreciative of their prior collaboration. In 1998, Murphy made his screen debut as “Pat the Barman” in the tiny Irish film “Sweety Barrett,” in which Gleeson portrayed the titular role.
When asked if he was anxious to play the lead in a movie alongside well-known performers like fellow Irishman Brendan Gleeson, Murphy replied that he was appreciative of their prior collaboration. In 1998, Murphy made his screen debut as “Pat the Barman” in the tiny Irish film “Sweety Barrett,” in which Gleeson portrayed the titular role.
I still recall having to pour him a pint of Guinness during the movie. Murphy recalled that his hands were shaking, showing how unsteady they were. Yet he was nice. He would take the time to chat with you even if I was just a child. That, in my opinion, demonstrates the man’s depth. I’ve had the pleasure of working with him five or six times now, and each time he amazes me more and more. He is truly a legend and one of my all-time heroes.
Murphy also talked about how the movie had two possible endings: one in which Jim lives, and one in which he passes away. Riley mentioned that she preferred the “optimistic” one when Murphy was asked if he had a favorite. “Yes, I believe that in my earlier years, I was a little more nihilist. “I liked the idea of two women coming out on top and fucking the guy,” the man commented. “However, I believe they preferred the version with hope.”
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Riley noted that it was fortunate that Jim lived so they could make another film with him since there has been continuous talk of a sequel to the film. “I am accessible,” Murphy said.
Even though the talk was filmed in December, it’s still relevant now that news of a sequel starring Boyle and Garland returning was released in January. This might potentially lead to the beginning of a new trilogy of films. Murphy will also join as an executive producer, according to THR.
Murphy covers a wide range of subjects in the extensive talk, such as how he used to handwrite letters to directors he respected and how watching TV movies like “The A-Team” and “MacGyver” as a child helped him improve his American accent. He talks about how “28 Days Later” helped him begin working with his “Oppenheimer” director, with whom he is still in contact today. “I had a meeting with Chris after Chris Nolan watched that movie.” “Our initial conversation and meeting marked the start of our relationship with Chris.”
Garland’s ability to illustrate how various people, given the same disintegrating civilization to struggle to survive, chose to react to their new reality in entirely different ways, gave the original picture its gritty, down-to-earth grandeur. Jim, Selina (Naomie Harris), Frank (Brendan Gleeson), and his daughter Hannah (Megan Burns) are the kinds of people you want to be stranded in a zombie-apocalyptic situation with. Major Henry West, played by Christopher Eccleston, and his prickly group of hungry military grunts are just the kind of people you wouldn’t want to deal with.
Boyle and company will have to work very hard to maintain the steely yet compassionate realism that helped make 28 Days Later such a classic in the upcoming episode. We do not want to see Jim (or any member of his group) turned into a legendary figure, a battle-hardened veteran with thousands of zombie kills under his belt, sporting an AK-47 and some type of bandana. The first movie succeeded in eschewing all the typical Hollywood action movie clichés, yet something is exciting about Selina taking out zombies with powerful weapons that are amazingly still functional.
Therefore, please offer us a 28 Years Later that stays faithful to the cramped, linear narrative style and direct rejection of fantasy aspects found in its predecessor. Instead of depicting intergovernmental operatives fighting across continents to keep the zombies in check, give us another vivid picture of the apocalyptic zombie situation. Fear curdles so wonderfully in the shadows, so this sequel needs to make sure we stay in the dark for as long as possible—if that’s even possible, three films in.
