Tron fans have much to look forward to in 2025 as the beloved franchise makes a thrilling return to the big screen with the much-anticipated sequel, Tron: Ares, set to premiere in October. The film stars Jared Leto as Ares, a program embarking on a high-stakes mission from the digital world to the real one, shrouded in mystery and intrigue.
While Ares visually aligns itself with its predecessor, Tron: Legacy, from 2010, as evident in the newly released trailer, questions arise about its narrative continuity. The shift from Daft Punk to Nine Inch Nails for the score underscores the franchise's continued commitment to a cutting-edge, electronica-heavy soundtrack.
However, Ares appears to be less of a direct sequel and more of a soft reboot. The absence of key characters from Legacy, such as Garrett Hedlund’s Sam Flynn and Olivia Wilde’s Quorra, raises eyebrows. Instead, the only confirmed returning cast member from the previous film is Jeff Bridges, sparking curiosity about the film's direction. Let's delve deeper into how Legacy set the stage for a sequel and why Ares seems to be diverging from that setup.
TRON: Ares Images
2 ImagesGarrett Hedlund’s Sam Flynn & Olivia Wilde’s Quorra
Tron: Legacy centers on the intertwined journeys of Sam Flynn and Quorra. Sam, portrayed by Hedlund, is the son of Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), the visionary CEO of Encom who vanished in 1989. In Legacy, Sam enters The Grid to rescue his father and thwart CLU, Kevin's digital creation, from invading the real world.
During his quest, Sam encounters Quorra, played by Wilde, an ISO, a spontaneously generated digital being. Quorra symbolizes the potential for life within a computer simulation. After defeating CLU, Sam returns to reality with Quorra, who transitions from a digital entity to a human form.
The conclusion of Legacy sets a clear trajectory for a sequel, with Sam ready to take the helm at Encom and steer it toward an open-source future, supported by Quorra, the living testament to the digital world's marvels. The home video release even included a short film, Tron: The Next Day, depicting Sam's return to Encom to usher in a new era.
Despite these setups, neither Hedlund nor Wilde are slated to reprise their roles in Tron: Ares. This absence is particularly noticeable given Legacy's box office performance, which, while respectable at $409.9 million on a $170 million budget, fell short of Disney's expectations. This may have prompted Disney to pivot Ares toward a more standalone narrative, distancing itself from the underperforming legacy of Legacy.
Yet, the omission of Sam and Quorra leaves a significant gap in the franchise's storyline. Are we to believe Sam abandoned his mission at Encom, or did Quorra return to The Grid? While Ares might opt for a fresh start, acknowledging these pivotal characters' contributions could bridge the narrative divide.
Cillian Murphy’s Edward Dillinger, Jr. ---------------------------------------The absence of other key actors from Legacy in Ares is equally puzzling, notably Cillian Murphy's Edward Dillinger, Jr. Introduced briefly in Legacy, Dillinger, Jr. was set up as a potential antagonist in future installments, following in his father's footsteps from the original Tron.
The Tron: Ares trailer hints at the return of the Master Control Program (MCP), with Ares and other programs sporting the MCP's signature red glow. This suggests a darker tone to Ares' mission, yet the lack of Dillinger, Jr. raises questions. Instead, Gillian Anderson introduces a new character central to the Encom board. However, Evan Peters joins the cast as Julian Dillinger, indicating the Dillinger legacy might still play a role, perhaps even with a surprise return by Murphy.
Bruce Boxleitner’s Tron
The most striking omission in Tron: Ares is Bruce Boxleitner, the actor behind both Alan Bradley and the iconic program Tron. In Legacy, Tron's fate was left open-ended, hinting at a possible redemption arc. The absence of Boxleitner in Ares leaves fans wondering if Tron has been recast, perhaps with Cameron Monaghan in the role. A Tron film without Tron himself feels incomplete, and fans hope Ares will address his storyline.
Why Is Jeff Bridges in Tron: Ares? ----------------------------------Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of Tron: Ares is the return of Jeff Bridges, despite his characters, Kevin Flynn and CLU, being killed off in Legacy. The trailer hints at Bridges' involvement, but it remains unclear whether he will play a resurrected Flynn, a surviving CLU, or a new digital incarnation. This mystery adds an exciting layer to Ares, yet the decision to bring back Bridges while sidelining other surviving characters from Legacy is perplexing.
As we eagerly await Tron: Ares, the film promises to unravel these mysteries and explore Ares' enigmatic mission, possibly aligning with Flynn, CLU, or the MCP. While the narrative choices raise questions, the anticipation for the film remains high, bolstered by the promise of an enthralling score by Nine Inch Nails.
