The recently released movie, 28 Years Later isn’t just a sequel—it’s a full-throttle return to the brutal, blood-soaked, and primitive world that Danny Boyle and Alex Garland unleashed more than two decades ago. And at the heart of this terrifying new chapter is the Alpha Infected, played with intensity by the MMA fighter-turned-actor Chi Lewis-Parry.
As the towering leader of the rage-fueled infected, Chi Lewis-Parry’s character brings a chilling new level of menace to the franchise. But turns out, stepping into the Alpha’s shoes came at a cost. Therefore, in a chat with Variety, Lewis-Parry revealed how the film’s punishing train sequence left him with more bruises than his entire undefeated MMA career ever did.
I suppose you could don him as the “King of the Infected,” especially how I played him. There are things that didn’t make the cut, but he’s very much in charge of everything. You get to see that with the interactions that the other infected have when they’re around him. They’re like hyenas, and he’s the lion. He will have his feed and you will have what is left!
Playing the Alpha zombie in 28 Years Later was more brutal than Chi Lewis-Parry’s MMA career
28 Years Later brings back the raw horror and chaos that we remember from Danny Boyle’s 28 Days Later—only this time, the terror is dialed up. The sequel dives deeper into a world torn apart by rage and infection, where survival feels impossible. And standing tall at the center of this nightmare is the Alpha Infected, a new and terrifying figure that sets the tone for the movie’s violence and fear.
These Alphas are considered the most fearsome and brutal of all those roaming the quarantined wasteland. Why? Because the Alphas’ signature move is to rip off human heads with the spine still attached and swing them around like a flail. Now, one such Alpha, known as Samson in the movie, is played by Chi Lewis-Parry—bringing his background in MMA to a role that demanded everything from him physically.
Chi Lewis-Parry’s Alpha is not just another infected. He’s the top predator, the one the others seem to follow without question. His character dominates the screen with an animalistic power, and you can see it in the way the other infected act around him. But for Lewis-Parry, it wasn’t just about looking scary. The MMA legend told Variety how the physical demands of playing the Alpha took a serious toll.
Using the standout moment from the film—the intense, bloody train scene with Spike—Chi Lewis-Parry recalled how it pushed him harder than any MMA fight he had faced. In that scene, the Alpha barrels through the narrow, chaotic space of an empty, broken-down train, throwing himself into walls and seats, all while facing Spike’s arrows. And that’s what became physically challenging for Lewis-Parry.
But the biggest standout thing was the physicality. I threw myself at every wall. That scene in the train gave me more bruises than my fighting career.
But also, I was in quite lean shape when I was cast for it and Danny made clear that he wanted the muscle to be incidental and not look like he worked out. So I was bigger than I am now.
Well, this scene became a brutal reminder for Chi Lewis-Parry that acting in a horror movie can be just as punishing as stepping into a cage. And while Lewis-Parry is no stranger to physical challenges, the role required a different kind of preparation. He came into the film in lean shape, expecting to rely on his natural athleticism. But director Danny Boyle demanded a natural-looking towering figure.
So, while the preparation for 28 Years Later was fine and the performance felt raw and real—shooting the scenes left the actor battered by the end.
A look into Chi Lewis-Parry’s long-standing MMA career, his wins, and the four-year suspension
Meanwhile, before becoming the Alpha Infected in Danny Boyle and Alex Garland’s 28 Years Later, Chi Lewis-Parry had been enduring some serious blows during his MMA career. Starting his role as an amateur in MMA in 2009, Lewis-Parry became a fighter turned pro by 2012. Thereafter, his towering frame and knockout power helped him rack up an impressive record of 9 wins, 0 losses, and 2 draws.
Seven of those victories came by knockout or TKO, and two by submission. Later on, one of the highlights of his career came in 2019 at UAE Warriors 13. Facing off against former UFC fighter Fabio Maldonado, Lewis-Parry delivered a first-round stoppage that cemented his reputation as a force to be reckoned with. His unbeaten streak stretched across 13 pro appearances—including two no contests and two draws (via MMAfighting).
However, Chi Lewis-Parry’s rise came to a sudden halt in 2020. That November, the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) announced a four-year suspension for Lewis-Parry after he tested positive for several banned substances. The tests, done in September 2019, showed drostanolone, stanozolol metabolites, and DHCMT metabolites—all anabolic agents banned at all times.
The situation got worse when USADA revealed that Chi Lewis-Parry had submitted a falsified supplement sample during his defense. He claimed a tainted product caused the positive tests, but the evidence didn’t hold up. The ruling meant four years away from competition—a huge blow for a fighter’s career and reputation, in his prime. But now, with 28 Years Later, Lewis-Parry channeled his fighting spirit and gained back his reputation.
28 Years Later is currently running at US theaters.
