Tron: Ascension’s Mysterious Fate & Tron: Ares’ Surprising Turn

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Summary

  • Tron: Ares trailer omits key characters from Tron: Legacy, setting up a Jared Leto-centric story.
  • Original plans for Tron: Ascension scrapped in favor of Tron Ares’ new direction.
  • Tron: Ares to focus on Leto’s Ares on a “dangerous mission” in real world, departing from Legacy’s threads.

Enthusiasts of the legendary, impactful science fiction series known as “Tron” were recently given a glimpse into the upcoming third installment titled “Tron Ares”. However, this sneak peek sparked divided opinions among fans because it seemed to exclude some crucial characters and strayed far from the narrative initially proposed for the aborted sequel called “Tron: Ascension.

After the debut of “Tron: Legacy” in December 2010 (approximately 3 decades after the first movie in 1982), the sequel gained cult status but didn’t impress critics, earning $400 million at the box office from an original budget of $170 million. Yet, ideas for a third film surfaced five years later. The cast and crew hinted at an interesting storyline involving “Tron: Legacy” characters Sam Flynn (played by Garrett Hedlund) and Quorra (portrayed by Olivia Wilde). However, Disney put this project on hold. Then, 15 years after the release of “Tron: Legacy”, a new film titled “Tron: Ares” emerged from the ashes.

What became of the initial plans for Tron: Ascension? How did the sequel featuring Olivia Wilde and Garrett Hedlund transform into a film heavily focused on Jared Leto’s character? Given that Jeff Bridges is the only cast member confirmed to return, it seems that Tron: Ares is less of a direct follow-up to the 2010 movie and more like a fresh start for the franchise. Discover what happened to Tron: Ascension by reading further.

What Was the Plot for Tron: Ascension?

Quorra & Sam Flynn’s Journey in the “Real World”

During pre-production, no official plot was made public. But interviews with director Joseph Kosinski, screenwriters Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis, as well as actress Olivia Wilde from “Tron Legacy,” have given us a tantalizing glimpse into the abandoned concept for the third movie.

The next chapter after Tron: Legacy, titled here as its sequel, will follow Sam Flynn and Quorra in the real world post their escape from Clu’s grasp within the Grid. The ending of the 2010 film left us with Sam’s determination to regain ENCOM’s control, while introducing us to Quorra (now a living, breathing entity), who was previously an “isomorphic algorithm.” In this upcoming movie, we will delve into the development and transformation of Olivia Wilde’s distinctive character.

As labeled an “invasion film” by Krasinski, the director revealed in an interview with Collider that Ascension would delve into the idea of characters from The Grid and reality interchanging between these dimensions. Particularly intriguing is the storyline focusing on Quorra’s voyage as the initial “digital-human hybrid” in the real world, grappling with her identity and where she belongs. Actress Olivia Wilde, too, expressed her eagerness to develop the character in a fresh setting and realm during an interview with Collider.

To me, it seems intriguing. The ongoing debates about artificial intelligence captivate me, and considering how virtual reality is transforming into a common, personal gadget, particularly in today’s context, I believe we’re at a perfect juncture to narrate this tale.

In a recent interview with Collider, Krasinski elaborated on the three-act structure of the upcoming TRON film. Act one will unfold in our reality (apparently continuing the story of Sam and Quorra), followed by act two venturing into the realm(s) of TRON. The climax, or third act, will reportedly shift back to the real world, featuring characters from the digital domain, like AI character Ares, seemingly breaching our reality.

As a dedicated movie enthusiast, I’m excited about the continuation of the Tron saga! The spin-off short film, “Tron: The Next Day,” along with additional bonus scenes, have left me intrigued. For instance, it hints at my character, Sam Flynn, returning to rebuild a more innovative Encom. Moreover, Bruce Boxleitner’s Alan Bradley is now in an executive role at Encom.

Another plot thread that caught my attention involves Cillian Murphy’s character, Edward Dillinger Jr., who seems poised to step into the shoes of the next human adversary. Interestingly, this character shares a family connection with David Warner’s Edward Dillinger, being his son and currently leading Encom’s software development department.

Lastly, one intriguing Easter egg on the Blu-ray reveals Edward addressing a covert program as “Dad.” This could suggest some hidden depth to the storyline that I can hardly wait to uncover!

Who Was Lined Up To Star In Tron: Ascension?

Apart from the return of director Joseph Kosinski, who took up the directorial role, it’s said that several cast members from the previous movie, “Tron: Legacy,” will also come back.

  • Olivia Wilde as Quorra
  • Garrett Hedlund as Sam Flynn
  • Cillian Murphy as Edward Dillinger Jr.
  • Bruce Boxleitner as Alan Bradley/Tron
  • Jeff Bridges as Kevin Flynn/Clu

Back in April 2015, The Hollywood Reporter initially reported that both Wilde and Hedlund were set to reprise their roles for the third movie. Additionally, Boxleitner confirmed his return, suggesting strongly that Cillian Murphy’s character Dillinger would also feature in the upcoming sequel.

“Let’s just say… Cillian Murphy doesn’t do cameos.”

As suggested by MovieWeb, screenwriters Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis hinted at the possibility of Jeff Bridges reprising his role in Tron Legacy. This was done through a subtle hint they provided.

In the upcoming installment, I’ll delve into the intriguing concept of life and demise within the digital universe!

What Happened to Tron: Ascension?

Initially slated for filming in fall 2015, Vancouver, British Columbia, it seemed that Disney had high hopes for the Legacy sequel. Yet, allegedly, the studio was shaken by the dismal opening weekend box office performance of Tomorrowland, which cost $180 million, leading them to cancel Tron: Ascension just a month later.

On the MTV “Happy Sad Confused” podcast, actor Garrett Hedlund revealed that the third installment of the film was put on hold due to several factors, including Disney focusing more of their financial resources on the Marvel and Star Wars franchise movies.

When it came time for the launch of the next TRON film, we were given the go-ahead and prepared to proceed. However, Disney encountered issues with the performance of Tomorrowland. I believe they asked for numerous justifications as to why they should move forward with TRON 3.

Tron: Ascension’s Evolution To Tron: Ares

After Disney announced they weren’t producing Tron: Ascension in 2015, it seemed that the studio was considering incorporating key aspects from the Ascension script into a new project. In 2017, they started looking at Jared Leto for the main role of Ares.

After an unsuccessful beginning with director Garth Davis in 2020, Disney has now confirmed that they will proceed with the third installment three years later. Once again, Jared Leto is set as the main character, and a completed script from Jesse Wigutow and Jack Thorne has been confirmed. Discussions are ongoing with director Joachim Rønning (of “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales”) about directing this project.

In the subsequent three years, they made additional cast announcements. Specifically, Evan Peters’ involvement was confirmed in June 2023, with Greta Lee and Jodie Turner-Smith joining in July of the same year. However, what truly excited the fans was the news that Nine Inch Nails would be composing the film’s music. This followed Daft Punk’s groundbreaking score for Tron: Legacy. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross (Challengers, The Social Network) were officially confirmed as the musicians at D23 in 2024.

It’s been an astonishing fifteen years for this project to reach completion, but we’ll see if it was worth the long wait as time goes on.

The Major Changes To The Tron: Ascension Script In Tron: Ares

Instead of following Quorra and Sam Flynn’s adventure, as originally planned for the canceled Tron: Ascension, the new focus has been moved to Jared Leto’s enigmatic, advanced character, Ares. The official summary emphasizes that Leto’s character is dispatched from the digital world into our reality on a perilous assignment.

Switching the perspective from Quorra to Ares in this narrative is disheartening on several levels, mainly due to Quorra’s intriguing and multidimensional nature. She represents the first “digital-human hybrid” in reality, offering immense potential for delving into profound themes. Moreover, transitioning away from a female-led sci-fi production seems regressive not just for the genre, but also for the studio.

Moving away from the paths established after Tron: Legacy seems like a significant squandered chance. Jeff Bridges is the only link to earlier episodes, as he’s the only franchise character from the past that appears in the trailer. It’s puzzling given his character apparently sacrificed himself to eliminate CLU at the end of Tron: Legacy. Is his brief voice in the trailer perhaps Kevin Flynn or a digital representation of CLU?

In the movie Tron: Legacy, who are the main characters like Edward Dillinger Jr., Alan Bradley (or the heroic Tron)? It seems that Evan Peters is now portraying Julian Dillinger, possibly as Edward’s younger brother, while Gillian Anderson has introduced a new character, who appears to be the central figure on the Encom board. If Disney isn’t holding back casting announcements or significant appearances in promotional materials, it doesn’t look like many of the original cast members will be appearing in the third installment.

Actor Bruce Boxleitner, renowned for his work in iconic franchises, has shared that he has distanced himself from the production. In an interview with SlashFilm back in 2015, he explained that due to the intermittent progress of the project, which has been in development for a considerable period, he chose to step away.

Moving forward, I’ve left that behind. It no longer holds my interest. Frankly, it’s been too unpredictable and inconsistent. Having a new Tron film without the classic character of Tron just doesn’t sit right with me.

It seems that numerous Tron: Legacy enthusiasts express a common sentiment about the transition from Sam and Quorra to Ares. After the debut of the initial Tron: Ares trailer, many vocalized their displeasure on social media platforms.

As a dedicated fan of the Tron franchise myself, I can’t predict with absolute certainty that “Tron: Ares” will be a hit among long-time fans or a blockbuster at the box office. However, the visually stunning trailer and the choice of Nine Inch Nails as the soundtrack definitely catch my attention. Yet, there seems to be a lack of other compelling factors that might work in its favor. The casting decisions have been controversial, and the film appears to deviate significantly from the main storyline presented in “Tron: Ascension.” Nevertheless, I sincerely hope that, in time, the third installment will do the franchise proud.

Tron: Ares is scheduled to be released in theaters on October 10, 2025.

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2025-04-09 22:26