Filmmaker Danny Boyle has set his expectations for a massive Cillian Murphy comeback in the 28 Years Later trilogy finale. Very few people know, but Boyle actually helped set up the modern template for high-velocity zombie thrillers with his 2002 low-budget horror film 28 Days Later. However, the cult status and the massive box-office returns it raked in would not have been possible without Cillian Murphy’s grounded, vulnerable lead performance as Jim that gave the film emotional depth and unpredictable tension.

While he helped set the tone for the movie’s future sequels, Murphy was nowhere to be seen- until 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. Now, director Danny Boyle has teased that Cillian Murphy will have a far more major role than a simple cameo in 28 Years Later Part 3. He followed this happy news with a full-fledged endorsement for Jack O’Connell for Bond.

Filmmaker Danny Boyle has firmly maintained that the third installment of the 28 Years Later franchise is guaranteed to happen. Speaking at the Zurich Film Festival - where he presented his project Ink - Boyle noted that the sequel will undoubtedly move forward due to persistent public demand. 

Variety reports that he confirmed during the festival that a strong script penned by Alex Garland is already in place, though an exact production timeline remains undetermined, and assured fans that Cillian Murphy will play a major role in the project. The director also quipped that it might be because Murphy now has an Oscar.  

“[It will have] a lot of Cillian Murphy in it. Whether he’ll take his kit off anymore, that I don’t know. He’s got the Oscar now,” said Boyle.

During his festival appearance, the director also took a moment to address ongoing speculation surrounding the next 007. Endorsing a successor to the iconic secret agent, Boyle asserted that the role should go to Jack O'Connell, as reported by Variety.

The filmmaker's perspective carries added weight given his history with the 007 franchise; Boyle previously stepped down from directing No Time to Die following creative differences with producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson, alongside leading man Daniel Craig.

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Anyhow, the director does not stop there and goes on to gush about O’Connell’s amazing acting chops.

During a festival masterclass, Danny Boyle offered high praise for Ink star Jack O'Connell. In the biographical drama - adapted by James Graham from his own stage play - O'Connell portrays Larry Lamb, who accepts Rupert Murdoch's offer to edit The Sun newspaper (with Murdoch played by Guy Pearce).

Highlighting the actor's range, Boyle pointed to O'Connell's work in Back to Black. He called it a wonderful film and noted that playing the boyfriend is an impossible role that O'Connell handled with an incredible performance.

Explaining his casting choice, Boyle remarked that he felt O'Connell was ideal to play Lamb because of his unique screen presence. He observed that even when portraying a questionable figure, O'Connell manages to keep audiences intrigued and engaged rather than repelled. The director noted that this quality was essential for Ink, which is set for a December release, as the character's moral compass completely dissolves in the relentless pursuit of success, yet viewers are still compelled to root for him.

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What do you think of Danny Boyle’s endorsement of Jack O’Connell as the next James Bond? Do let us know in the comments.