Danny Boyle wasn’t keen on casting Cillian Murphy in 28 Days Later – until the actor’s one line changed his mind

28 Days Later is a film that is credited for resurrecting the zombie horror genre in the early 2000s. Written by Alex Garland, the film is directed by British filmmaker Danny Boyle and it was released on June 27, 2003. Here's the synopsis, as per Letterboxd:

Twenty-eight days after a killer virus was accidentally unleashed from a British research facility, a small group of London survivors are caught in a desperate struggle to protect themselves from the infected. Carried by animals and humans, the virus turns those it infects into homicidal maniacs – and it’s absolutely impossible to contain.

Today, people often associate this film with Cillian Murphy's performance. Boyle, however, has revealed that he wasn't initially keen on casting the Irish actor.

Danny Boyle was unsure about casting Cillian Murphy in 28 Days Later

Danny Boyle recently gave an interview to The Hollywood Reporter, where he revealed that he initially thought Ewan McGregor did not fit the part in his 1996 film, Trainspotting. Asked if there was another actor he had similar thoughts about, Boyle mentioned Cillian Murphy in 28 Days Later. He said,

"Cillian was another example. He’s a very sweet guy. He’s very laid back. And we wanted this raging fucking guy at the end of [28 Days Later]. It’s hard to spot that in Cillian."

But the actor then said a sentence that changed Boyle's mind.

"He basically said, 'I come from Cork,' in Ireland. Do you know Roy Keane, the footballer? He comes from Cork. Cork produces fighting men. He said, 'Trust me, I know what I’m talking about. I come from Cork.' I trusted him, that he would reveal it to me."

28 Days Later revolves around a courier guy who wakes up from a coma and realizes that a contagious rage virus has spread across the nation, leading to widespread collapse of life. The film stars Cillian Murphy with Naomie Harris, Megan Burns, and Christopher Eccleston among others. It was a critical and commercial success and was followed by 28 Weeks Later, which was released in 2007. The sequel was made without Boyle or Garland's involvement, and featured an entirely new set of actors. Just like its predecessor, the film was well received.

The 28 Days Later franchise is being resurrected now with 28 Years Later, which also marks the return of Boyle and Garland. The new film is slated to be released on June 20, 2025.

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