Danny Boyle’s long-dormant horror icon has returned in 28 Years Later, and boy, is it gory—and unapologetically daring. But amid the rampaging Alphas and harsh new world, one feature in particular has audiences buzzing: the prosthetic package of Samson, the film’s premier infected Alpha, embodied by 6-foot-8 former MMA powerhouse Chi Lewis-Parry. Yes, the camera definitely lingers—and yes, the internet roared.
Prosthetic Power Moves
Chi Lewis-Parry shrugs off questions about Samson’s prosthetic with easy charisma. Speaking to Variety he said “I’m 6‑foot‑8,” he laughs. “I’ll say no more.” But that one line speaks volumes—just like the prosthetic itself. Crafted with weight, detail and bold intent, it doesn’t just exist; it commands your attention.
“Danny Boyle insisted it look real, move real, feel real,” Lewis-Parry explains. “It needed heft. Fake or light, and the illusion breaks. Samson’s presence had to feel painfully authentic.” As Alphas stomp across the UK wasteland, naked and feral, Samson’s prosthetic punctuates the raw masculinity and absurdity of the moment—definitely not shy, definitely unforgettable.
Naked Rage in Full Frontal Fashion
28 Years Later takes nakedness beyond shredded jeans and tank tops. The virus has worn away all clothing over decades. The infected sprint bare-chested and bare-legged, every sinew and scar exposed. And yes—even below the waist.
“Legally and ethically, we had to use prosthetics,” Lewis-Parry explains. “With 13-year-old Alfie Williams on set, we couldn’t do real nudity. But prosthetic or not, I wouldn’t have been hugging around if I was fully in the nude!”
That honesty—and that thigh-to-prosthetic visual—sets the tone. Alphas aren’t just scary—they’re bravely unfiltered, naked in motive and appearance. And Samson? He’s swinging spines and swinging eyes.
Spine‑Swinger Supreme
Samson doesn’t just run and roar—he rips. One of the film’s pivotal scenes occurs in a dim, damp reservoir tunnel. Lewis-Parry hurls himself through the dark, grabbing a severed head spliced to a spine, swinging it like some medieval weapon. It’s brutal. It’s beautiful. And it left a mark.
“I bruised up more in that scene than in my entire fighting career,” he says. “I even scored an actual flesh wound—slew up on that rifle prop. It cut pretty deep. That scar is now my trophy. My Samson souvenir.”
The prop itself—crafted by FX legend John Nolan—was more than stage weight. “It had to feel heavy,” Lewis-Parry says. “I braced it with my elbow. I pivoted off my hip. If it looked light, it would lose that savage punch.”
Infused Muscle with Naturalistic Realness
Samson looks ripped, but maybe not like your stereotypical gym idol. Boyle wanted “incidental muscle”—mass gained organically, not by squat routines and protein shakes. The result: a hulking silhouette that looks earned, not sculpted.
“I was bigger going into filming than I am now,” Lewis-Parry shares. “Boyle wanted the body to look primal, not pampered. I still threw myself at walls, bled and sweat for it. But no bodybuilder flex—just ruthless, raw presence.”
A King Among Hyenas
Samson isn’t just a standout Alpha—he’s the apex predator among the infected. Lewis-Parry dubbed him “the King of the Infected.” He crafted a backstory: a noble protector turned ultimate monster. This depth informed Samson’s dominance—he may roar, but he commands respect even from the undead.
“That hierarchy among the Alphas? That came from me,” the actor says. “Samson’s a lion surrounded by hyenas. He eats first. The rest staff off the scraps.”
Boyle was so impressed by Lewis-Parry’s “Samson bellow,” he cast him not just as the visual centerpiece, but gave him the role of voicing all Alpha infected. One roar to rule them all.
From Gladiators to Gym Bros
Lewis-Parry’s monster energy doesn’t end on screen. He’s previously appeared in Gladiator 2 as the swaggering fighter Phoebus—who meets a grisly end courtesy of a rhino horn. And off-set? He’s training with Ralph Fiennes. Pairing brute strength with polished refinement, the duo has hit the gym together—and Fiennes’ discipline leaves Lewis-Parry admiringly breathless. “He’s older than me—and setting the pace,” he says.
Horror Dreams & Bond Villain Ambitions
Even with Samson dominating his screen time, Lewis-Parry’s ambitions don’t stop at spine-swinging gore. He’s playing one of the “runners” in Edgar Wright’s upcoming The Running Man reboot—though he cannot divulge more. And one long-held goal still glimmers: playing a Bond villain.
“I wanted to play Predator or Bond villain since 2005,” he recalls. “That tunnel moment—blood, beast, spine in hand—it hit me: I am my own Predator. Now it’s time for that sly villainy.”
Final Bit: A Bold, Brawny Vision
Chi Lewis-Parry isn’t just a hulking horror icon. He’s master of his mythos—mashing primal ferocity with emotional undercurrents, and wearing prosthetics that menacingly refuse to be ignored. Samson is terrifying. He’s absurd. He’s artfully real on screen—and unmissably human behind the monstrous—prosthetic included.
28 Years Later slashes into theaters now. And don’t be surprised if you leave half-awed by the gore—and half whispering about that prosthetic.
