Why Tron: Ares Looks Like a Truly Baffling Sequel
- By Eric
- Apr 14,2025
Tron fans, get ready for an exciting 2025! After a long wait, the beloved franchise is making a thrilling comeback to the big screen this October with a new sequel titled "Tron: Ares." The film stars Jared Leto as the titular character Ares, a program embarking on a high-stakes and mysterious mission in the real world.
Is it safe to call "Ares" a sequel? Visually, the movie is undeniably reminiscent of 2010's "Tron: Legacy." The newly released trailer makes this clear, and with Nine Inch Nails taking over from Daft Punk, the electronica-heavy score remains a key element. However, "Ares" appears more like a soft reboot than a direct continuation. Key characters from "Legacy," such as Garrett Hedlund's Sam Flynn and Olivia Wilde's Quorra, are noticeably absent, and Jeff Bridges is the only returning cast member from the previous films. Let's delve into how "Legacy" set up its 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" centers on the intertwined journeys of Garrett Hedlund's Sam Flynn and Olivia Wilde's Quorra. Sam, the son of Jeff Bridges' character Kevin Flynn, the CEO of Encom who vanished in 1989, enters The Grid to rescue his father and thwart Kevin's rogue creation, CLU, from invading the real world. In the process, Sam reconnects with his father and encounters Quorra, an ISO—a digital lifeform spontaneously generated in The Grid. Quorra embodies the potential for life within a computer simulation. At the film's conclusion, Sam defeats CLU and returns to the real world with Quorra, now a flesh-and-blood being.
The ending of "Legacy" paves the way for a sequel. Sam is poised to take on his role as Encom's major shareholder, aiming to steer the company toward a more open-source future, with Quorra as a living testament to the wonders of the digital world. The home video release even includes "Tron: The Next Day," a short film showing Sam's return to Encom to usher in a new era.
Despite this setup, neither Hedlund nor Wilde are returning for "Tron: Ares," signaling a significant shift in the franchise's direction. "Legacy" earned $409.9 million globally on a $170 million budget, falling short of Disney's expectations. Like other underperforming films of its time, such as "John Carter" and "The Lone Ranger," Disney may have decided to pivot "Ares" into a more standalone story. However, Sam and Quorra's absence leaves a substantial gap in the narrative. We hope "Ares" will at least acknowledge their significance, if not bring them back for surprise cameos.
Cillian Murphy’s Edward Dillinger, Jr. ---------------------------------------The absence of Cillian Murphy's Edward Dillinger, Jr. from "Ares" is equally puzzling. Introduced briefly in "Legacy" as the head of Encom's software development team and a rival to Sam's open-source vision, Dillinger was clearly set up for a larger role in a sequel. His potential return as the main human antagonist, mirroring his father's role in the original "Tron," alongside the Master Control Program (MCP), seemed likely.
The "Tron: Ares" trailer hints at the MCP's return, with Ares and other programs marked by the MCP's signature red highlights. This suggests a darker mission for Ares, though his role as hero or villain remains unclear. If the MCP is back, why isn't Edward Dillinger? Gillian Anderson's new character takes center stage at Encom, leaving fans wondering about Dillinger's fate. However, Evan Peters is set to play Julian Dillinger, hinting that the Dillinger family still has a role in "Ares." There's always the possibility that Murphy could return in a surprise role, given his uncredited cameo in "Legacy."
Bruce Boxleitner’s Tron
Perhaps the most surprising omission from "Tron: Ares" is Bruce Boxleitner, who portrayed both Alan Bradley and the iconic security program Tron in the original film and reprised Alan in "Legacy." In that sequel, it's revealed that CLU's bodyguard, Rinzler, is a reprogrammed Tron, who ultimately regains his heroic identity. Yet, Boxleitner is not returning for "Ares," raising questions about the film's direction. Is it possible that Tron has been recast with a younger actor, perhaps Cameron Monaghan? We hope "Ares" will address Tron's unresolved fate from "Legacy," as the character deserves redemption and a place in any Tron sequel.
Why Is Jeff Bridges in Tron: Ares? ----------------------------------The return of Jeff Bridges to "Tron: Ares" is particularly intriguing, given that both of his characters, Kevin Flynn and CLU, were killed off in "Legacy." In that film's climax, Kevin sacrifices himself to defeat CLU, allowing Sam and Quorra to escape. So, why is Bridges back for the third installment? The trailer offers a glimpse of his voice, but it's unclear whether he's playing a living Kevin Flynn, a surviving CLU, or a new iteration. Could CLU have survived their mutual demise, or did Flynn maintain a backup of CLU? Perhaps Flynn has achieved a form of digital immortality?
These mysteries will be unraveled in "Ares," which will also clarify whether Ares is allied with Flynn/CLU or serving the MCP's agenda. Despite our excitement for "Tron: Ares," the absence of key "Legacy" survivors and the resurrection of Bridges' characters leave us puzzled. Nonetheless, the promise of a captivating NIN score offers a silver lining.
AnswerSee ResultsIn other Tron news, find out about the series return to the gaming realm with the Metroid/Hades hybrid Tron: Catalyst.
