Tron: Ares Finally Reveals Itself In Villainous Image

Production for Tron: Ares started in January, and the film is expected to hit theaters in 2025. The villain’s suit, depicted in vibrant red with a dark helmet and black accents, is an imposing spectacle. The red color suggests the characters’ allegiance to the Master Control Program, the rogue AI first introduced in the original Tron movie by Walter Gibbs.

Along with images and the full cast announcement, Disney provided a brief synopsis of Tron: Ares. The official, one-sentence teaser reads, “Tron: Ares follows a highly sophisticated program, Ares, who is sent from the digital world into the real world on a dangerous mission, marking humankind’s first encounter with A.I. beings.”

The notion of a sequel to Tron: Legacy has been circulating since 2013 and was once reportedly canceled in 2015 before it emerged again in 2017. The project was officially greenlit in 2023 with director Joachim Rønning, who expressed his excitement to be part of the Tron franchise and the opportunity to present this new film to fans globally. He emphasized that Tron: Ares continues the franchise’s tradition of innovative design, technology, and storytelling, making it fitting to return to the Grid.

Both previous Tron films delve into complex themes like artificial intelligence, the intricate bond between humans and technology, and the risks of uncontrolled authority in cyberspace. The first Tron follows the trials of Kevin Flynn, a talented computer programmer (portrayed by Jeff Bridges), who is thrust into a virtual world by a domineering software known as the Master Control Program (MCP).

In this realm, Flynn, amongst software personified as human-like entities, grapples with the MCP’s tyrannical reign. With the help of Tron, a cybersecurity program, and a band of allied software, they strive to topple the MCP and liberate the computer world.

The sequel, Tron: Legacy, shifts focus to Sam Flynn (played by Garrett Hedlund), the son of Kevin Flynn, who embarks on a quest to uncover the truth behind his father’s puzzling disappearance. His search leads him deep into the Grid, a concealed digital universe where programs and users coexist. Alongside Quorra (Olivia Wilde), a security program, he faces off against Clu, a twisted variant of his father’s creation, Sam labors to free the Grid and thwart Clu’s plan to wreak havoc in the real world.

With the sequel hinting at ongoing struggles in the Grid, the stage has long been set for a potential third installment of the popular series. Now production is finally underway.

The original Tron was a groundbreaking film due to its special effects. Tron: Legacy upped the ante with more cutting-edge visual effects and the addition of a driving Daft Punk soundtrack. It remains to be seen if Tron: Ares can push the boundaries further, but the first images are a good sign.