Danny Boyle’s “28 Years Later” hits cinemas tonight in previews ahead of tomorrow’s release, but already the film is stirring quite a bit of chatter.

Critical aggregate scores, though not stellar, are very high for the genre and the best of the franchise thus far. From shooting with iPhones to a story that has more ‘heart’ than previous entries, the film pulls off tonal shifts and wild styling that is best described as a bit messy but compelling going by the reviews.

However it’s the ending that has really drawn a lot of chatter. As the film is the first in a trilogy, Boyle and writer Alex Garland have indicated the movies will feature ‘handover’ scenes with the finales setting up stuff for the next feature in the trilogy.

The second film’s handover scene is confirmed to be the one where Oscar winner Cillian Murphy returns to the franchise followed by a major role in the third film. The first film’s handover scene however is all about setting up the controversial main villain of the second film.

“28 YEARS LATER” SPOILERS AHEAD

Initially introduced as a child in flashback scenes, the ending of the film sees the reintroduction of Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal, a cult leader played by Jack O’Connell (“Sinners,” “Starred Up”). The character, with long blond hair and velour tracksuit who leads a group of similarly attired ‘Jimmys’, appears to be partly inspired by Jimmy Savile. Savile was an English media personality and DJ who died in 2011 at age 84, after which it was discovered he was one of Britain’s most prolific and predatory sex offenders.

A writer for Slashfilm attended the London world premiere the other day, spoke about the comparisons with Savile (first reported back in the British tabloids) and says: “I can confirm there was a collective moment of unease as the penny dropped to just what was on the screen.”

Speaking with GQ earlier this year, O’Connell said of his character: “Yes, Sir Lord Jimmy Crystal, full moniker. He’s a … He is a gas c—. I don’t know quite how to describe him yet. But thrilling to portray, that’s for sure. He definitely exists in the darker pocket, certainly in contrast to anything I’ve ever played before.”

Garland was asked about his inspiration for the Jimmy Crystal character by Variety and, though not mentioning who exactly, he tells the trade:

“Danny and I grew up in an era where everything was about looking forward in some respects, and currently, for the last 10 or 15 years, we’re in an era that is very much about looking back.

What the film is preoccupied with on some level is the way when we look back, there is amnesia, and there is cherry picking. Also, there are things that are misremembered.

What the film is, if you look at individual characters, but you also look at the community that’s represented and the elements about the communication and the world-building is a mash of those things: Things that have been forgotten, things that have been cherry-picked and things have been misremembered. They’re smushed so together, which carries within it a kind of commentary.

END SPOILERS

Asked about the status of the third film, Garland says the “script isn’t written” at present, but “there’s a story, there’s a plan, there’s a structure”. “28 Years Later” is in cinemas now and is tracking for a domestic opening in the $25-30 million range.