Tron 3 Pulls Off Epic Casting Surprise: Shameless & Gotham Star Secures Mystery Role

Disney's highly anticipated sci-fi threequel, Tron: Ares, has just welcomed two new additions to its star-studded cast. Among them is a beloved actor known for their roles in Shameless and Gotham. Set as a continuation of the 2010 sequel, Tron: Legacy, the latest installment will showcase Jared Leto as the eponymous computer program, named after the Greek god of war. Alongside Leto, other casting choices have been revealed, including Evan Peters of Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story fame, Greta Lee, and Jodie Turner-Smith.

According to Deadline, the ensemble for Tron: Ares has expanded with the inclusion of Cameron Monaghan and Sarah Desjardins, both in undisclosed roles. Monaghan, famous for his time on Shameless and Gotham, has gained immense recognition for his portrayal of Jedi Knight Cal Kestis in the widely acclaimed Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Survivor games. On the other hand, Desjardins can currently be seen in Showtime's Yellowjackets, where she plays the daughter of Melanie Lynskey's character Shauna.

How Tron: Ares Differs From Disney’s Original Tron 3 Plans

Expectations were high in 2010 when Tron: Legacy hit theaters, picking up 28 years after the original cult classic from 1982. While the original Tron was only moderately successful upon its release, it was praised for its technical advancements, and its popularity grew when it became a beloved cult classic on home video. With an established fanbase and recognizable brand, it was believed that the 2010 sequel would create a franchise that could rival the success of Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean movies.

Although the 2010 sequel did make a decent profit, reviews were mixed and the initial audience response was lukewarm at best. Nevertheless, Tron: Legacy achieved enough success to convince Disney to approve a third film, rumored to be titled Tron: Ascension. Initially, this film was set to bring back Garrett Hedlund as Sam Flynn and Olivia Wilde as Quorra, with filming planned to start in October 2015. However, the project was ultimately cancelled in May of that year.

Leto's character Ares in the upcoming Tron 3 is said to have originated from Disney's original Tron: Ascension script. However, it is likely that the story has undergone significant changes over the past eight years while it was in development. Furthermore, it seems increasingly probable that the new installment will not include Hedlund and Wilde's characters, as well as Cillian Murphy's villainous Edward Dillinger Jr. The direction that Tron: Ares will take without them remains unknown, but hopefully, it will be an improvement compared to its predecessor.