Tron enthusiasts have plenty to celebrate in 2025 as the iconic franchise is set to return to the big screen this October with a new installment titled Tron: Ares. The third entry in the series features Jared Leto as the titular character, a program embarking on a high-stakes and enigmatic mission from the digital world into reality.

While it's tempting to label Ares as a sequel, the film's visual style unmistakably connects it to 2010's Tron: Legacy. The newly released trailer reinforces this connection, and with Nine Inch Nails stepping into the shoes of Daft Punk, the importance of an electronica-heavy soundtrack remains undiminished. Yet, in other aspects, Ares appears more like a soft reboot than a direct continuation. The absence of key Legacy characters, including Garrett Hedlund's Sam Flynn and Olivia Wilde's Quorra, raises questions. Furthermore, the inclusion of Jeff Bridges, a veteran of the Tron universe, in the cast of Ares adds another layer of intrigue. Let's delve into how Legacy set up its sequel and why Ares seems to diverge from this narrative path.

TRON: Ares Images

2 ImagesGarrett Hedlund’s Sam Flynn & Olivia Wilde’s Quorra

Tron: Legacy primarily focuses 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 telecom giant Encom who vanished in 1989, enters The Grid in Legacy to rescue his father and thwart Kevin's creation, CLU, from invading the real world with a digital army.

During his quest, Sam reconnects with his father and encounters Quorra, an ISO, a spontaneous digital lifeform within The Grid, symbolizing the emergence of life even in a simulated environment. The film culminates with Sam defeating CLU and returning to the real world alongside Quorra, who transitions from digital to physical form, marking a significant milestone.

Legacy concludes with a clear setup for a sequel, with Sam poised to take a more active role in Encom, steering it towards a more open-source future, and Quorra as a testament to the potential of digital realms. The storyline is further explored in the short film "Tron: The Next Day," included in the home video release, depicting Sam's return to Encom to guide the company into a new era.

However, neither Hedlund nor Wilde are slated to return for Tron: Ares, a notable omission that suggests Disney's intent to shift the franchise in a new, more standalone direction. Despite Legacy earning $409.9 million worldwide against a $170 million budget, it didn't meet Disney's expectations for a blockbuster hit. This financial performance, akin to that of John Carter and The Lone Ranger, might have influenced Disney's decision to pivot away from directly continuing Legacy's plot.

The absence of Sam and Quorra leaves a significant gap in the narrative fabric of the Tron series. It raises questions about their fates and roles in the Tron universe moving forward. Hopefully, Ares will acknowledge their importance, even if through subtle references or unexpected cameos.

The absence of Cillian Murphy, who played Edward Dillinger, Jr., in Legacy, further complicates the narrative continuity of Ares. Introduced as the head of Encom's software development and a rival to Sam's open-source vision, Dillinger's brief appearance hinted at a more significant role in a future installment, possibly as the human antagonist in a narrative involving the return of the Master Control Program (MCP), the original film's digital villain.

The Ares trailer suggests a return of the MCP, with programs marked by the MCP's signature red highlights. This implies a darker tone to Ares' mission, leaving viewers to ponder his role as hero or villain. The absence of Edward Dillinger raises questions, especially with the introduction of Gillian Anderson's new character at Encom. However, the inclusion of Evan Peters as Julian Dillinger hints at the family's continued involvement, and it's possible that Murphy might still make a surprise appearance.

Bruce Boxleitner’s Tron

The most puzzling omission from Tron: Ares is Bruce Boxleitner, who portrayed both Alan Bradley and the titular program, Tron, in the original film and reprised Alan in Legacy. The latter revealed that CLU's bodyguard, Rinzler, was a reprogrammed Tron, who regained his original identity after falling into the Sea of Simulation. The absence of Boxleitner in Ares raises significant concerns about the film's connection to its roots, especially the fate of Tron himself. It's unclear whether Tron has been recast or if his role will be addressed in the new film.

The announcement of Jeff Bridges' return to the Tron franchise in Ares adds a layer of mystery, given that both his characters, Kevin Flynn and CLU, met their demise in Legacy. In the climax of the previous film, Kevin sacrifices himself to defeat CLU, enabling Sam and Quorra's escape. The inclusion of Bridges in Ares suggests a complex narrative twist, perhaps involving the survival or resurrection of CLU or a transcended version of Flynn within The Grid.

The trailer offers a glimpse of Bridges' voice, but his exact role remains a mystery. Whether he's playing a resurrected Flynn, a surviving CLU, or a new iteration altogether, his involvement hints at a significant plot development. However, the decision to bring back Bridges while omitting other key Legacy characters leaves fans both excited and perplexed.

Despite these narrative ambiguities, the promise of a thrilling new score by Nine Inch Nails adds to the anticipation surrounding Tron: Ares.