Exploring Ares Program in TRON & TRON: Legacy

Disney has unveiled a first look at the main character of TRON: Ares, sparking debates on whether he appeared in TRON or TRON: Legacy. The third installment of the TRON series, titled Tron: Ares, has been in development for nearly 14 years and is set to hit theaters in 2025. The franchise first began in 1982 with the release of the original movie, based on Ernest Cline's book, winning praise from both critics and audiences. TRON quickly gained a devoted fan base thanks to its stunning visuals, music, and unique concept.

Following the success of the original, the second TRON film was not released until late 2010. Prior to TRON: Legacy's debut, creator Steven Lisberger revealed plans for a sequel - TRON: Ares. Similar to its predecessor, the third TRON movie faced a lengthy production process. Initially set to begin filming on August 14, 2023, the movie was among those affected by the SAG-AFTRA strike. Production for TRON: Ares finally commenced in January 2024, offering a first glimpse of Jared Leto's portrayal of Ares, the central character.

Jared Leto's Ares Program Is Brand-New For TRON: Ares

Custom image of Jared Leto in The Little Things and a character riding a bike in Tron Legacy - Jared Leto's Ares Program Is Brand-New For TRON: Ares

Ares is a new character in the TRON franchise, not seen in TRON or TRON: Legacy. However, Ares was not specifically created for the TRON: Ares script. Instead, the character of Jared Leto was taken from the canceled direct sequel, TRON: Ascension. Although the script for TRON: Ascension is not public, The Hollywood Reporter revealed that Ares played a significant role in the story. Many plot elements from TRON: Ascension were adapted for TRON: Ares, making it more relevant to modern issues.

Director Joseph Kosinski had plans for TRON: Ascension to flip the concept of TRON by bringing video game characters into the real world, instead of humans entering the digital realm. The movie was intended to blend the real world with the various worlds of TRON, including Olivia Wilde's Quorra from TRON: Legacy and introducing new characters like Ares. Despite the cancellation of TRON: Ascension in May 2015 due to the disappointment of Disney's Tomorrowland, the idea of game characters crossing into reality was kept for TRON: Ares, focusing on the theme of artificial intelligence rather than human-digital hybrids.

Everything We Know About TRON 3's Ares Character

The change in A.I. in TRON: Ares seems fitting, especially with the increased interest in the topic following the Writer's Strike and SAG-AFTRA Strike of 2023.

Jared Leto looking back in Tron Ares - Everything We Know About TRON 3's Ares Character

The creative team behind Tron 3 has been keeping details about the storyline and characters under wraps. This includes the character Ares, played by Jared Leto, in TRON: Ares. Ares is said to be the main character of the movie, but it's unclear whether he will be a hero or a villain. He is a cutting-edge artificial intelligence program who will cross over into the real world, raising questions about humanity and identity.

TRON: Ares Revives Classic Design Choice

Based on the first look photos, Tron: Ares is bringing back the 42-year-old design choice of incorporating suits with red lighting. In the original film, the villain Sark and his cronies wore suits with red lighting. The structure of the suit is updated from the original, though, looking more akin to the ones from TRON: Legacy. As such, it combines the best elements of both movies and hints at Ares' possible role in the plot of TRON 3.

Sam Flynn grabbing his disc from his back as seen through Clu's legs in Tron Legacy - How TRON: Legacy Set Up The Rogue Ares Program

In TRON and TRON: Legacy, humans are pulled into the game world. However, TRON: Legacy introduces the rogue Ares program, hinting that digital beings can escape into the real world. In the movie, Clu, a malevolent program resembling Flynn, attempts to break free from the game. Sam, Flynn's son, steps in to rescue his father and stop Clu from crossing over. This shows that it's not just humans who can enter the game, but also technological programs can exit into reality.

In TRON: Legacy, the idea is reinforced when Olivia Wilde's character, Quorra, transitions into the real world. However, in TRON: Ares, Ares is depicted as an artificial intelligence program leaving the game, unlike Quorra who becomes a human upon entering the real world. The upcoming TRON movie suggests that Ares may not evolve into a human character like Quorra did. The details regarding Ares's transformation in TRON: Ares remain unclear. According to sources like The Hollywood Reporter and Geek Tyrant.

Editor's P/S:

The upcoming "TRON: Ares" promises to be a thrilling addition to the beloved franchise, showcasing a new character played by the enigmatic Jared Leto. While the article provides intriguing details about Ares's role as an AI program crossing into the real world, it also raises questions about the timeline and continuity within the series. The revelation that Ares was originally intended for the canceled "TRON: Ascension" suggests a significant shift in the story's direction. It will be fascinating to see how the creative team weaves elements from both projects into "TRON: Ares."

The article also highlights the return of the classic design choice of red-lit suits, a nod to the original film. This suggests a conscious effort to preserve the franchise's visual legacy while incorporating contemporary elements. As a fan of the "TRON" series, I am eager to discover how "TRON: Ares" expands the mythology and explores the themes of artificial intelligence and identity in this captivating digital realm.