Former One Tree Hill star Chad Michael Murray is all grown up now and almost unrecognizable in his new film, Outlaws and Angels, which opens in theater this weekend. The 34-year-old actor spoke to ET exclusively about his upcoming projects and, for the first time opened up on how becoming a father has changed his life.
"Having a family just changes your perspective on everything," Murray told ET's Katie Krause. "I mean it's a world changer."
Murray and his wife, Sara Roemer, welcomed their first child last May.
"For me, it was the greatest thing that's ever happened to me," he gushed. "Having kids is a game changer and I think you're always walking around with the mentality that you want to make sure that they're proud and you want to represent them well and just be a great leader."
The Agent Carter star also explained how after the birth of his son he makes sure to take a closer look at every new project that comes his way.
"Just last week a project came up, and just due to the content alone, it wasn't something that I [want] my son to see when he grows up," he said. "It's not the type of material and I didn't feel like the payoff was worth it. You really have to weigh each choice, but at the same time, it is a job and it is just a craft - it's art performances. I don't take it too seriously but I also want it to creatively push me. I want to take chances and I want to do things that are going to scare the crap out of me."
For now, Murray is busy promoting Outlaws and Angels, which also stars newcomer Frances Eastwood, Clint Eastwood's daughter. Set in 1887, the film follows three violent fugitives who hold a couple and their children (Eastwood, Madisen Beaty) hostage in their isolated New Mexico farmhouse.
This fall, the actor will also get to reunite with the cast of One Tree Hill. Murray, James Lafferty, Jana Kramer and Antwon Tanner are all confirmed to appear at the EyeCon convention in Chicago.
"I'm totally excited! At the end of the day, everything is about the fans and it's about the people that brought you to the party," he confessed. "It's amazing the way that this show has really created a life and just reached and touched so many people and so it's an honor at the end of the day and it's a part of my life and you know – it's just a piece of me - it's always flattering."
As to whether or not he would return to the show if it came back in the future, it could happen.
"You know, for me, I think that there would be a lot of question marks," he explained. "What is the content? What is the material? What can I do? What haven't I done that I can do? As an artist, you can get snuffed very quickly if you're kind of doing a lot of the same. I like changing it up a bit, so if I was going to come back into a world that was very different and stir [things up], yea, I would love to."
Outlaws and Angels hits theaters and VOD on July 15.