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Danny Boyle's horror sequel 28 Years Later is finally out in cinemas, and everyone is talking about the same thing. No, not its electric soundtrack or giant zombie penis... Jack O'Connell's wild, brief appearance at the very end of the movie.
Warning! The rest of this article contains spoilers for 28 Years Later. Proceed with caution!
The Sinners star was cast in 28 Years Later back in May 2024, though details of his character were kept secret right up until its release. While we were explicitly shown Aaron Taylor-Johnson and Jodie Comer's married couple Jamie and Isla, and Alfie Williams as their son Spike in the trailers, as we were Ralph Fiennes' Dr. Ian Kelson, O'Connell's "Sir Jimmy Crystal" remained hidden. And, well, now we know why.
For starters, he only shows up right at the end of the film – so it makes sense that they wouldn't want to tease him too much this time around, so as not to disappoint audiences when he's barely in it. 28 days after the death of his mother, Spike has vowed to stay and fend for himself on the mainland, but the youngster gets himself into a sticky situation when he tries to flee a horde of infected, and winds up running right into a dead end. It's then that O'Connell's Jimmy pops up...
His look is pretty striking regardless: bleached hair, purple shell suit, and blinged-out accessories (including a dainty tiara), but it's the fact that the get-up was clearly inspired by one of Britain's most prolific sex offenders Jimmy Savile that knocked UK audiences for six. To add to the absurdity of the moment, he helps Spike escape the horde by ordering his blonde-wigged cronies, who are all dressed exactly like him, to dispatch them in a combat style that can only be described as parkour-meets-Ninjutsu.
"They were smart for not including Jack O'Connell in any of the trailers for 28 Years Later bc nothing in the world can prepare you for what he looks like," one fan wrote on Twitter, while another said: "Y'all are not f***ing ready for Jack O'Connell in 28 Years Later."
"Lololol the only thing good about 28 Years Later was Jack O'Connell and his merry band of Post-Apocalyptic Chavs," added a third.
I went to see the 28 Years Later premier and I thought it was a smart, gripping and u expected sequel in the series. I even liked the weird Kill Bill Jimmy Saville end! pic.twitter.com/zBk4uBkR5XJune 19, 2025
Started giggling and kicking my feet irl when Jack O’Connell showed up doing some lil freak shit in 28 Years Later 🙈 pic.twitter.com/MWUnyQR2yLJune 18, 2025
Out of context Jack O’Connell spoilers for #28YearsLater pic.twitter.com/K9uQCKoetPJune 20, 2025
me at the jack o’connell as jimmy crystal 28 years later promotional content store pic.twitter.com/TZoqjmJYvQJune 18, 2025
spent the whole runtime of 28 years later wondering where jack o’connell was and nothing could’ve prepared me for his revealJune 20, 2025
jack o'connell character in 28 years later is a litmus test to see if you're cool or notJune 20, 2025
"You didn't get to see Ralph’s character in your 28 minutes, but he's a big character in this one and becomes a huge character in the second one. And Jack O'Connell, who's right at the end of this film, becomes a huge character in the second film," director Danny Boyle previously teased to Indiewire. "And Alfie goes through [both films]." Consider us intrigued to see where this goes...
28 Years Later is in cinemas now. Its sequel, 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, is due out on January 16, 2026. For more, check out the new horror movies coming your way soon.
