‘Absolutely haunting’ horrified fans cry after ‘spotting Cillian Murphy’ looking very different in new film first look

CILLIAN Murphy fans have been left horrified after "spotting" the Irish star looking terrifying in his role for an upcoming new film.

A new trailer release offering a first look at the long-awaited third instalment in Danny Boyle's post-apocalyptic 28 Days Later film series has created a huge stir with fans online.

The cult classic, which catapulted Murphy to fame, is set to make a comeback with the release of the thrilling new flick 28 Years Later.

The new narrative unfolds 28 years post the original events and features stars like Jodie Comer, Ralph Fiennes, and Aaron Taylor-Johnson.

Eager fans have been itching to find out if Oscar-winner Cillian will be returning to reprise his role in the film.

However, a recent trailer released online has had some fans believing they spotted the Cork native's original character.

In a split second clip, a gruesome zombie arises in the background from some flowers.

Viewers were quick to point out the resemblance of the zombie's face to that of Murphy's.

With debate immediately sparking online, fans were excited to discuss the possibility of a "zombie Murphy".

One fan wrote on Twitter: "The one second shot of Cillian Murphy is giving me a bone deep sense of terror."

Daniel said: "Whoa, Cillian looks absolutely haunting in this first look."

Zoe added: "Oh this is horrifying."

While another fan remarked: "This transformation is terrifying, but
Cillian Murphy is an absolute legend."

George exclaimed: "This will be insane! After all these years, the suspense, the tension, it’s about to hit differently. The wait’s going to be worth it."

And Gordon commented: "Well, that’s a plot twist I didn’t see coming! Curious to see how they pull it off."

Although Murphy has been absent from any 28 Years Later promos, assurances have been made that he will indeed feature in the newest instalment.

STAR'S RETURN

When asked about Cillian's involvement, Tom Rothman, chairman of Sony Motion Pictures Group, told Deadline: "Yes, but in a surprising way and in a way that grows, let me put it that way.

"This is Danny Boyle at his best, combined with a very commercial genre, like we had with Edgar Wright and Baby Driver.

"Sometimes when you put a real signature director into a commercial arena, it elevates it."

In the original 2002 movie, Cillian plays a bicycle courier who awakens from a coma to discover the accidental release of a highly contagious virus has caused the breakdown of society.

The movie has been hailed as one of the best "zombie films ever made".

28 Years Later will be released in cinemas worldwide on June 20, 2025.