Ignorant Americans are dressing up as a Jimmy Savile-inspired character in the latest 28 Years Later film.
The latest installment in the 28 Days Later franchise – titled 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple – landed in cinemas last week to critical acclaim with Jack O’Connell‘s performance as cult leader Jimmy attracting the most attention.
He appeared at the very end of the last film and because of his long blonde hair, colourful tracksuit, and mannerisms British viewers were quick to notice some uncomfortable similarities between the character and one of Britain’s most notorious paedophiles – Jimmy Savile.
Executive producer Danny Boyle and O’Connell have both previously confirmed that the character is intended to resemble Savile.
In the film’s timeline Britain collapsed in 2002, meaning the revelations about the predatory sex offender’s crimes would never have come to light.
Now ignorant Americans across the pond are donning outfits inspired by O’Connell’s character, seemingly unaware of the connection to Savile.
On TikTok, user Kildros shared a video of himself wearing a green tracksuit and a blonde wig with the caption: ‘On my way to see the Bone Temple’.
Replying to his video on the platform other users were quick to highlight the connection between Jimmy and the sex offender.
Americans across the pond are donning outfits inspired Jack O’Connell’s character seemingly unaware of the connection to Savile. Pictured: TikTok user Kildros shared a video of himself wearing a green tracksuit and a blonde wig on his way to watch the movie
On Reddit, Canadian user Ronan attended an early screening of the horror film in Toronto kitted out in a purple tracksuit and blonde wig
One wrote: ‘You shouldn’t dress up as him’. In reply Kildros claimed he went into the film ‘blind’ he said he was ‘beside myself afterwards’.
On Reddit, Canadian user Ronan attended an early screening of the horror film in Toronto kitted out in a purple tracksuit and blonde wig.
One user from the UK said: ‘I cannot express how unhinged wearing this is, from a British perspective.’
Speaking to Ladbible, Ronan defended the costume saying he had no ill intent behind it.
He said he was ‘aware of the controversy’, but didn’t ‘mean any offence’ by dressing as the character.
‘I was just simply dressing up for my most anticipated movie of the year, as I often get invited to other movie premieres. I’ve always been a massive Jack O’Connell fan and Jimmy Crystal is iconic,’ Ronan said.
The latest film is set 28 years after a monstrous virus ripped across Britain turning the population into flesh-eating zombies.
Crucially to the plot, this would be a world where Savile’s crimes – which came to light in 2012 following his death – were never revealed leading to the sickening situation where the sex offender is still remembered as a beloved children’s television presenter.
Danny Boyle previously said: ‘He’s as much to do with pop culture as he is to do with sportswear, to do with cricket, to do with the honours system.
Jack O’Connell as Jimmy in 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple. Due of his long blonde hair, colourful tracksuit, and mannerisms British viewers were quick to notice some uncomfortable similarities between the character and Jimmy Savile
Jimmy Savile on Top of the Pops in 1973. 28 Years Later is set in a world where Savile’s crimes – which came to light in 2012 following his death – were never revealed leading to the situation where the sex offender is still remembered as a beloved Children’s television presenter
‘It’s all kind of twisting in this partial remembrance, clinging onto things and then recreating them as an image for followers.’
O’Connell, who plays Jimmy, told the Hollywood Reporter: ‘I think he sort of models himself on the memory of this figure that was always on TV.
‘I think what Alex [Garland, screenwriter] means behind that, and I can’t speak for him, but my take was unchecked power. I think it totally exists in the story to unsettle.’
For the British actors who star opposite O’Connell as fellow members of his cult the similarities between their costumes and Savile was not so lost on them.
Robert Rhodes, who plays Jimmy Jimmy, speaking at the film’s premiere said: ‘So, when I signed on, I knew I was called Jimmy. However, in my costume fitting, I kind of had an inkling, I kind of left it going, “Um, am I dressed as Jimmy Savile?”.’
In his five star review of 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple, the Daily Mail’s film critic Brian Viner wrote: ‘Nia DaCosta’s survivalist horror film 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple is not really for the squeamish, in the same way that jobs in abattoirs are not wholly recommended for lifelong vegans.
‘It is brutally, horribly, gruesomely violent. It is also bold, brilliant, bravura story-telling.’
