Despite the lasting cultural impact of the first Tron film, it wasn't a box office success as Disney was forced to write off some of the film's $17 million production budget.
The 1982 film has endured over the years thanks to its impact on computer-generated imagery and the fact that its special effects were revolutionary for their time. It went on to develop a cult following in the many years that passed, leading Disney to greenlight a sequel, 2010's Tron: Legacy.
That film too, failed to turn a profit at the box office but it also has its fair share of die-hard fans that praise the sequel's vivid imagery and bombastic score from Daft Punk.
With an expensive new theme park attraction that recently debuted in Magic Kingdom, Tron Lightcycle Power Run, which cost a reported $70 million, Disney is looking to raise the profile of the IP with a third film installment.
After a long period of development, Tron: Ares is set to hit theaters on October 10, 2025. Filming began in January 2024.
Speaking to Collider, actor Cameron Monaghan shared his excitement for the film, stating, "I think this one, in a very similar way, is going to really push forward what can be done, from a visual perspective."
"I would sometimes even come in on days I wasn’t working because that set was really amazing. A lot of the practical sets were pretty phenomenal, and I would love to go look at those as well."
Elsewhere, Jeff Bridges, who anchored the first two films as Kevin Flynn/Clu just confirmed his return for Tron: Ares.
He shared the news via the Film Comment podcast, where he stated, "I’m heading off this Saturday to play a part in the third installment of the ‘Tron’ story; I’m excited about that. It’s wild. Jared Leto is the star of this third one, and I’m really anxious to work with him, and I’ve admired his work."
With Bridges confirming his return, Tron fans are now left to wonder if Legacy stars Garett Hedlund, and Olivia Wilde will also be reprising their roles as Sam Flynn and Quorra, respectively.
The confirmed cast for Tron: Ares includes Leto, Bridges, Monaghan, Greta Lee, Evan Peters, Hasan Minhaj, Jodie Turner-Smith, Arturo Castro, and Gillian Anderson.
Joachim Rønning (Kon-Tiki, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales) will be directing from a script penned by Jesse Wigutow (Warcraft, The Adventures of Thomas) and Jack Thorne ( Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, His Dark Materials).