Tron: Ares Unveils New Chapter with Lingering Questions

Tron enthusiasts have something to look forward to in 2025. After a long hiatus, the franchise returns to theaters this October with Tron: Ares, a new film led by Jared Leto as a program embarking on a high-stakes, enigmatic mission in the real world.

Is Ares truly a sequel? Visually, it echoes the aesthetic of 2010’s Tron: Legacy, as evident in the newly released trailer. With Nine Inch Nails replacing Daft Punk, the film’s electronica-driven score remains a key focus.

Yet, Ares feels less like a direct continuation and more like a fresh take on the franchise. Where are the surviving characters from Legacy? Why are Garrett Hedlund and Olivia Wilde absent from Ares? Why is Jeff Bridges the only confirmed returning star? Let’s explore how Legacy paved the way for a sequel and why Ares seems to diverge from that path.

TRON: Ares Images

Sam Flynn and Quorra’s Legacy

Tron: Legacy centers on the journey of Sam Flynn, played by Garrett Hedlund, and Quorra, portrayed by Olivia Wilde. Sam, the son of Encom CEO Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), enters the digital world of The Grid to rescue his father and stop CLU, Kevin’s creation, from invading reality with a digital army.

Sam encounters Quorra, an ISO—a unique digital lifeform born within The Grid. She represents the potential for life within a computer simulation. By the end, Sam defeats CLU and escapes to the real world with Quorra, now a living being.

Legacy’s conclusion sets a clear course for a sequel. Sam embraces his role as Encom’s primary shareholder, ready to steer the company toward an open-source future. Quorra, a symbol of digital marvels, stands by his side. A short film, “Tron: The Next Day,” included in the home release, shows Sam returning to Encom to lead it into a new era.

Yet, neither Hedlund nor Wilde appears to return for Ares, their absence glaring. Disney may have opted for a more standalone story, given Legacy’s $409.9 million global box office against a $170 million budget (excluding marketing). While not a flop, it underperformed compared to Disney’s expectations, much like John Carter or The Lone Ranger. The studio might believe Legacy’s story didn’t resonate enough to warrant a direct continuation.

Still, Sam and Quorra are too integral to Tron’s narrative to be overlooked. Did Sam abandon his vision for Encom? Did Quorra return to The Grid? Their absence creates a significant gap, and we hope Ares at least acknowledges their importance, perhaps through surprise cameos.

Edward Dillinger, Jr.’s Unfulfilled Role

The absence of Hedlund and Wilde isn’t the only puzzle. Cillian Murphy, who played Edward Dillinger, Jr. in a brief, uncredited role in Legacy, also seems missing from Ares. As the son of the original Tron’s antagonist, Edward Dillinger, Jr. heads Encom’s software team and opposes Sam’s open-source vision.

Murphy’s casting suggested a larger role in a future sequel, likely as a key human antagonist, mirroring his father’s clash with the Master Control Program (MCP). The Ares trailer hints at the MCP’s return, with red highlights marking Ares and his allies—a signature of the MCP, distinct from CLU’s orange or Tron’s blue. This implies a darker motive behind Ares’ mission, though his role as hero or villain remains unclear.

If the MCP is back, why isn’t Dillinger? Why is Gillian Anderson’s new character now prominent on Encom’s board? Evan Peters’ Julian Dillinger suggests the Dillinger family still plays a part, and Murphy’s uncredited Legacy role leaves room for a surprise return.

Where Is Tron Himself?

Perhaps the most perplexing omission is Bruce Boxleitner, who played Encom executive Alan Bradley and the heroic program Tron in the original film. In Legacy, Boxleitner returned as Alan, while Rinzler, CLU’s enforcer, was revealed as a corrupted Tron. By Legacy’s end, Rinzler’s fall into the Sea of Simulation restored his original programming.

Boxleitner’s absence from Ares raises questions. A Tron film without Tron feels incomplete. Is Tron recast, perhaps with Cameron Monaghan? We hope Ares addresses Tron’s unresolved fate, giving the character the redemption he deserves.

Jeff Bridges’ Surprising Return

The most surprising news about Tron: Ares is Jeff Bridges’ return. In Legacy, his character, Kevin Flynn, sacrifices himself to destroy CLU, ensuring Sam and Quorra’s escape. Both Flynn and CLU appear to perish.

So why is Bridges back? The trailer features his voice, but it’s unclear if he’s playing a surviving Flynn, a revived CLU, or something else. Did Flynn achieve digital immortality? Did CLU survive? Ares’ mission—potentially tied to the MCP—adds further intrigue. Bridges’ return feels odd when other key characters who survived Legacy are absent.

Despite these mysteries, the Nine Inch Nails score promises to deliver. We’re eager for Tron: Ares but puzzled by its choices.

In other Tron news, explore the franchise’s gaming comeback with Tron: Catalyst, a Metroid/Hades-inspired title.