Why Tron: Ares Looks Like a Truly Baffling Sequel

Tron fans have a reason to celebrate in 2025, as the franchise makes a thrilling return to the big screen this October with a new sequel, Tron: Ares. Starring Jared Leto as the titular character, Ares embarks on a high-stakes and enigmatic mission from the digital realm into the real world.

While Ares visually echoes the style of 2010's Tron: Legacy, as evident from the newly released trailer, the presence of Nine Inch Nails instead of Daft Punk underscores the continued emphasis on an electronica-heavy score. However, Ares seems to lean more towards a soft reboot rather than a direct sequel. This raises questions about the absence of key characters from Legacy, such as Garrett Hedlund's Sam Flynn and Olivia Wilde's Quorra. The only returning actor from the previous installment is Jeff Bridges, adding to the mystery of how Ares fits into the existing narrative.

TRON: Ares Images

Garrett Hedlund’s Sam Flynn & Olivia Wilde’s Quorra

Tron: Legacy centers around the journey of Sam Flynn and Quorra. Sam, the son of Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), CEO of Encom, enters The Grid to rescue his father and thwart CLU's plan to invade the real world. Along the way, he meets Quorra, an ISO, a digital lifeform that represents the potential for life within a computer simulation. The film concludes with Sam defeating CLU and bringing Quorra into the real world, setting the stage for a sequel where Sam takes on a more active role in Encom's future, and Quorra embodies the bridge between the digital and real worlds.

Despite this setup, neither Hedlund nor Wilde are slated to return for Tron: Ares, which is puzzling given their central roles in Legacy. The decision might reflect Disney's strategy to pivot the franchise after Legacy's $409.9 million global earnings, which fell short of expectations on a $170 million budget. Disney may be opting for a more standalone approach, similar to their handling of other underperforming films from the same period.

Yet, ignoring Sam and Quorra's established storylines leaves a significant gap in the narrative. It's unclear whether their arcs will be acknowledged or if their absence will be explained, but fans are hopeful that Ares will at least nod to their importance in the Tron universe.

Cillian Murphy’s Edward Dillinger, Jr.

Another notable absence from Tron: Ares is Cillian Murphy, who portrayed Edward Dillinger, Jr. in a brief role in Legacy. Set up as a potential antagonist in future sequels, Dillinger, Jr. was poised to take on a larger role, possibly reviving the Master Control Program (MCP) as seen in the original Tron. The Ares trailer suggests the MCP's return, indicated by the red highlights on Ares and other programs. However, without Dillinger, Jr., the narrative might shift focus to a new character, played by Gillian Anderson, who seems to be central to the Encom board's storyline.

Despite this, Evan Peters is set to play Julian Dillinger, suggesting the Dillinger family's continued involvement. There's still a chance that Murphy could make a surprise return, given his uncredited role in Legacy.

Bruce Boxleitner’s Tron

The absence of Bruce Boxleitner, who played both Alan Bradley and Tron, is particularly striking. In Legacy, Tron was reprogrammed into Rinzler, who regained his heroic identity at the film's end. The decision not to include Boxleitner in Ares raises questions about the film's direction, particularly whether Tron's character will be recast or omitted entirely. Fans hope that Ares will address Tron's fate and offer him a chance at redemption.

Why Is Jeff Bridges in Tron: Ares?

The most surprising aspect of Tron: Ares is the return of Jeff Bridges, whose characters, Kevin Flynn and CLU, were seemingly killed off in Legacy. The trailer hints at Bridges' involvement, but it's unclear whether he's playing a resurrected Kevin Flynn, a surviving CLU, or another iteration of these characters. This raises intriguing questions about the plot and whether Ares is aligned with Flynn, CLU, or the MCP.

While Tron: Ares promises excitement and mystery, the absence of key characters from Legacy and the return of Bridges leaves fans both eager and perplexed. Nonetheless, the anticipation for the film is heightened by the promise of a captivating NIN score.

In other Tron news, fans can look forward to the franchise's return to gaming with Tron: Catalyst, a new game blending elements of Metroid and Hades.