Fresh off his Best Actor Oscar win for Oppenheimer, Cillian Murphy could have chosen literally any project in Hollywood. He chose to return to the Tron universe—and apparently, all it took was some really good concept art.

According to Games Radar, production designer Olivier Gondry created custom concept art showing Murphy suited up as Sark—the same character David Warner played in the original 1982 Tron—specifically to convince the actor to sign on for Tron: Ares.

And it worked. Murphy is officially attached to reprise the role, making him the latest Oscar winner to dive into big-budget sci-fi world-building.

Let's appreciate what happened here: A production designer essentially created a visual pitch deck for an A-list actor by showing him exactly how cool he'd look in a light suit. That's both brilliant salesmanship and a reminder that even Oscar winners can be sold on pure aesthetics.

The Tron franchise has always been a cult property despite Disney's best efforts to make it mainstream. The original was a box office disappointment that became influential for its groundbreaking visual effects. Tron: Legacy (2010) was a gorgeous, narratively inert sequel that made money but failed to launch the expanded universe Disney wanted.

Now comes Tron: Ares, which director Joachim Rønning has described as both a continuation and a fresh start. The plot reportedly involves an AI program named Ares crossing over into the real world—a concept that feels particularly relevant given 2026's ongoing conversations about artificial intelligence.

Murphy joining the cast alongside (who plays the titular Ares) signals that Disney is serious about making this more than another failed reboot. doesn't need franchise work—he's spent most of his career carefully choosing prestige projects and collaborations with . The fact that he's doing this suggests the script and vision are compelling enough to justify the blockbuster detour.