A newly revealed piece of concept art from the Tron universe has fans talking, and it gives us a fascinating look at what could’ve been.
The artwork features Cillian Murphy stepping into the role of Sark for what many still call Tron: Legacy, and it’s a seriously cool alternate path for the franchise’s digital villain legacy.
The artwork was recently shared by concept artist Phil Saunders, who worked on Tron: Legacy during its early development. According to Saunders, the sketch was one of his very first assignments on the sequel, handed to him by production designer Darren Gilford.
The task was to create a visual pitch that might entice Murphy to return after his brief appearance as Edward Dillinger Jr.
Saunders explained that the illustration was designed as a quick concept to potentially lure Murphy back and expand the junior Dillinger storyline in a much bigger way.
Instead of just being a cameo character lurking in the background, Dillinger Jr. would’ve stepped into the spotlight as Sark, the iconic enforcer first introduced in the original Tron.
The artist also shared how excited he was to take on the challenge. He said he was “thrilled” to be working on the design and eager to reinterpret Sark’s classic aesthetic.
Drawing heavy inspiration from legendary comic artist Moebius, Saunders crafted a fresh spin on the character’s armor and silhouette. The result feels sleek, slightly alien, and unmistakably Tron, while still honoring the original design.
Of course, it didn’t pan out that way. Murphy’s Edward Dillinger Jr. had a brief but important setup moment in Tron: Legacy, positioning him as a possible future antagonist in Tron: Ascension. But, he didn’t get the opportunity to return, and the Sark concept was left behind as the franchise shifted direction.
This scrapped design stands as a reminder of one of the many directions the series could’ve taken. Would you have wanted to see Cillian Murphy suit up as Sark in a full-blown Tron sequel?
