Tron fans have plenty to celebrate in 2025, as the franchise gears up for a cinematic return this October with the highly anticipated sequel, Tron: Ares. Jared Leto stars as Ares, a program embarking on a high-stakes and enigmatic mission in the real world. This development marks the end of a long hiatus for the beloved series.
Is Tron: Ares a sequel, though? Visually, it's unmistakably connected to 2010's Tron: Legacy, as evident from the newly released trailer. The switch from Daft Punk to Nine Inch Nails for the score underscores the continued emphasis on a pulsating electronica soundtrack. However, despite these similarities, Ares appears to be more of a soft reboot than a direct sequel. The absence of key characters from Legacy—such as Garrett Hedlund's Sam Flynn and Olivia Wilde's Quorra—raises questions about its continuity. Notably, Jeff Bridges is the only confirmed returnee from the previous films. Let's delve deeper into how Legacy set the stage for a sequel and why Ares seems to be diverging from that path.
TRON: Ares Images
2 ImagesGarrett Hedlund’s Sam Flynn & Olivia Wilde’s Quorra
Tron: Legacy focuses on the intertwined journeys of Sam Flynn and Quorra. Sam, portrayed by Garrett Hedlund, is the son of Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), the CEO of Encom who vanished in 1989. Sam's quest leads him into The Grid, where he aims to rescue his father and thwart CLU's plan to invade the real world with a digital army. During his adventure, Sam encounters Quorra, played by Olivia Wilde, an ISO—a spontaneously generated digital lifeform symbolizing the potential of life within digital realms. By the film's end, Sam defeats CLU, and he and Quorra return to the real world, with her transitioning into a flesh-and-blood being.
The conclusion of Legacy sets up a clear trajectory for a sequel, with Sam poised to take a more active role in leading Encom towards an open-source future, and Quorra as a testament to the marvels of the digital world. The home video release even includes a short film, Tron: The Next Day, showing Sam's return to Encom. Yet, the absence of Hedlund and Wilde in Tron: Ares is conspicuous. This shift may reflect Disney's decision to pivot towards a more standalone narrative, considering Legacy's $409.9 million global earnings on a $170 million budget did not meet expectations. Disney's strategy seems to be moving away from direct sequels to films that underperformed, similar to their approach with movies like John Carter and The Lone Ranger.
Nevertheless, the absence of Sam and Quorra from Ares leaves a significant gap in the franchise's narrative continuity. It raises questions about whether Sam abandoned his mission at Encom or if Quorra returned to The Grid. We hope Ares will at least acknowledge these characters' significance, even if they do not return in cameo roles.
Cillian Murphy’s Edward Dillinger, Jr. ---------------------------------------The absence of other Legacy actors, such as Cillian Murphy's Edward Dillinger, Jr., adds to the mystery surrounding Ares. Murphy's brief, uncredited appearance in Legacy set up his character as a future antagonist, the head of Encom's software development and a rival to Sam's open-source initiatives. His role was clearly designed for expansion in a sequel, likely to include a revival of the Master Control Program (MCP), the main villain from the original Tron.
The Tron: Ares trailer hints at the MCP's return, with programs marked by glowing red highlights reminiscent of the MCP's signature color. This suggests a darker tone to Ares' mission, though his alignment remains ambiguous. The absence of Dillinger, and the introduction of Gillian Anderson's new character as a focus at Encom, leaves fans wondering about the narrative direction. However, Evan Peters' character, Julian Dillinger, indicates the Dillinger family's continued involvement, and there's always the possibility of Murphy's unannounced return.
Bruce Boxleitner’s Tron -----------------------The most perplexing omission from Tron: Ares is Bruce Boxleitner, who played Alan Bradley and the titular hero, Tron, in the original film and reprised Alan's role in Legacy. In Legacy, it was revealed that CLU's enforcer Rinzler was a reprogrammed Tron, who ultimately regained his heroic identity. The absence of Boxleitner raises concerns about whether Ares will include Tron at all. Could Tron be recast with a younger actor, possibly portrayed by Cameron Monaghan? Regardless, Ares should address Tron's ambiguous fate from Legacy, as the character merits a proper resolution and inclusion in any Tron sequel.
Why Is Jeff Bridges in Tron: Ares? ----------------------------------The inclusion of Jeff Bridges in Tron: Ares is particularly intriguing, given that both his characters—Kevin Flynn and CLU—were killed off in Legacy. In the film's climax, Kevin sacrifices himself to defeat CLU, enabling Sam and Quorra to escape to the real world. The trailer for Ares hints at Bridges' return, but it's unclear whether he's reprising Kevin Flynn, playing a surviving version of CLU, or embodying a new digital entity. The mystery surrounding Bridges' role in Ares adds to the film's allure, but also highlights the unusual choice to bring back a deceased character while omitting key survivors from Legacy. Despite these narrative puzzles, the new score by Nine Inch Nails promises an electrifying auditory experience.
In other Tron news, fans can look forward to the franchise's return to gaming with the innovative Tron: Catalyst, blending elements of Metroid and Hades for a fresh take on the Tron universe.
