Jimmy Savile: 28 Years Later Actor Reveals Disturbing Real-Life Inspiration

The Final Scene of 28 Years Later and Its Controversial Implications

The final scene of 28 Years Later sparked a range of reactions from audiences around the world. Most viewers in the United States and internationally were captivated by the introduction of Jack O’Connell’s character, Sir Jimmy Crystal, along with his group of zombie-fighting companions. Dressed in bright jumpsuits and wearing platinum blonde wigs, the gang presented an unusual yet intriguing image. However, for British audiences or those familiar with the real-life story of Jimmy Savile, the portrayal of Sir Jimmy Crystal evoked a different kind of unease.

Jimmy Savile was once a beloved children’s entertainer in Britain. After his death in 2011, however, numerous allegations of sexual abuse emerged, revealing a dark side that had been concealed by his employers at the BBC. The decision to model Sir Jimmy Crystal after Savile appeared to be a deliberate reference to this tragic story. This connection would not have been known within the film’s alternate reality, where British civilization collapsed in the early 2000s.

In an interview with Business Insider, screenwriter Alex Garland described the character as a commentary on modern political culture and its tendency to idealize the past. "The thing about looking back is how selective memory is and that it cherry picks and it has amnesia and crucially it also misremembers," Garland said. "And we are living in a time right now, which is absolutely dominated by a misremembered past."

While 28 Years Later ends abruptly without providing much insight into Sir Jimmy Crystal, the character is explored in greater depth in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, written by Garland and directed by Nia DaCosta. In this sequel, Jimmy is revealed to be a satanist who believes himself to be the son of the devil. He communicates directly with the devil and leads a group of children—each named Jimmy—on a violent mission to eliminate human weakness.

For Jack O’Connell, who plays a central role in the film, the link between Sir Jimmy Crystal and Jimmy Savile was a significant aspect of his performance. "The clues were in the writing and so understanding what Alex was trying to say there was important to me," O’Connell told . "I’m sort of on board with the messaging. It is a comment on unchecked power."

Savile’s abusive behavior went unchecked during his lifetime, and similarly, Jimmy Crystal manages to evade consequences for his actions throughout the course of 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. The irony lies in the fact that Jimmy Crystal is unaware of the true nature of the character he emulates. This duality adds layers to the character, offering both psychological insight and a broader critique of the state of Britain in the movies.

"The zeitgeist just paused in 2001 when this infection ravaged society," O’Connell explains. "So it’s clinging onto that, and Jimmy doesn’t know what we know."

Ultimately, while O’Connell may not fully understand all of Garland’s intentions regarding Jimmy Savile and his role in the film, he sees the connections as a thoughtful addition to a movie already rich with themes and messages. "I thought it was an interesting take and a clever one," he says.

28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is set to release in theaters on January 16.