Chi Lewis-Parry isn’t just another face in the horde. Towering at 6’8” and playing a naked, menacing Alpha zombie in 28 Years Later, the former MMA fighter turned actor has grabbed headlines—and eyeballs. With his fully-exposed, full-throttle performance, audiences were left wondering: is that all Chi?
Spoiler alert: it’s not.
“They were prosthetics,” Lewis-Parry clarified, addressing the elephant—or rather, the prosthetic appendage—in the room. “There’s a law that states, I think, because [child actor Alfie Williams is] a child, you’re allowed to have nudity but it has to be fake nudity.” Translation? Even in an apocalypse, modesty—and legal compliance—reigns supreme.
Chi’s honesty isn’t just refreshing; it’s part of a growing shift in how nudity is approached on set, especially in films that blend horror with heavy themes. His openness about set protocols—especially the part about not wanting to hug people while “fully in the nip”—adds a welcome layer of transparency to an industry that’s often more comfortable with gore than consent.
When asked whether the prosthetic was, shall we say, accurate, Lewis-Parry cheekily deflected: “Well, I’m 6′ 8″. I’ll say no more.” No more needed, really.
But it’s not all flailing limbs and infected mayhem. Lewis-Parry also has his sights set on more traditional villainy, telling press he’s got Bond villain dreams. “There haven’t been any official discussions, but I’ve definitely put it out there,” he teased.
For queer audiences, this kind of casting matters. Seeing a buff, openly warm and respectful man like Chi on screen—in all his terrifying, prosthetically-enhanced glory—helps normalize body diversity and comfort with nudity, all while contributing to the horror genre’s long-standing embrace of queer subtext. And let’s be honest: the gays love a dramatic reveal.
With 28 Years Later smashing its way into cinemas and Chi Lewis-Parry cementing himself as horror’s newest heartthrob-zombie hybrid, we’re living for this evolution in queer-friendly, body-positive cinema.
And prosthetics or not? We’ll take it.