The Tron saga is roaring back to life, but could this revival spark a digital revolution—or just leave fans hanging in cyberspace?
Dive into the electrifying world of Tron: Ares, where the stars are buzzing with ideas for a potential Tron 4 reunion. Published just moments ago, this piece explores how Tron: Ares breathes new energy into a franchise that's been flickering for 43 years, blending the virtual Grid with our tangible reality in ways that might surprise even the most dedicated fans.
Tron: Ares, as detailed in our review (https://www.polygon.com/tron-ares-review-jared-leto-jeff-bridges/), revives the beloved series by transporting the inhabitants of the digital realm called the Grid—think of it as a vast, computer-generated universe where programs come to life—into the physical world. For newcomers, the Grid is like a high-tech playground where code turns into characters, battles rage with glowing weapons, and identity discs serve as keys to power and identity. While this might seem like a straightforward sequel to 2010's Tron: Legacy (https://www.polygon.com/2020/12/17/22179890/tron-legacy-deaging-effect-disney/), which ended with programs venturing beyond their digital confines, Ares spins a fresh yarn about these virtual beings evolving into fully realized humans.
But here's where it gets controversial: Director Joachim Rønning and writer Jesse Wigutow haven't ditched the franchise's rich history. They weave in direct connections to the original 1982 Tron film, including a cameo from Jeff Bridges reprising his role as Kevin Flynn, and they even tease Legacy in the movie's climactic scenes. And this is the part most people miss—it's not just nostalgia; it's a clever nod that could redefine what Tron means in today's world of AI and virtual reality.
[Editor's note: Major spoilers for the ending of Tron: Ares follow.]
Photo: Leah Gallo/Disney Enterprises
Tron: Ares wraps up with tantalizing hints of more adventures ahead. The AI warrior Ares, played by Jared Leto, has seamlessly blended into human society and appears poised to reunite with Quorra (Olivia Wilde), a character from Tron: Legacy who was last seen cruising through the Pacific Northwest with Kevin Flynn's son, Sam (Garrett Hedlund). This setup screams potential for future stories, blending real-world intrigue with digital drama.
Yet, the filmmakers don't stop there. The credits sequence delivers even more layers, providing backstory on one of the film's villains. Is there a mid-credits scene in Tron: Ares? Absolutely—it's a thrilling extension of the movie's cliffhangers. We discover what happens to Julian Dillinger (Evan Peters) after he dodges real-world justice by uploading his mind to the Grid. Julian awakens in the servers of Dillinger Enterprises, only to find the Grid devastated by ENCOM's cleanup crew, turning it into a desolate, post-apocalyptic digital wasteland where he's utterly isolated.
Then, Julian spots an identity disc embedded in the console—the very one that gave Ares his distinctive triangular disc. Long-time Tron enthusiasts will recognize it as a match for the red-and-grey disc wielded by Sark (David Warner), the villainous program engineered by Julian's grandfather, Edward Dillinger (also played by David Warner). As Julian seizes the disc, he lets out a scream while armor outlines materialize on his body, mirroring Sark's iconic look from the original film and echoing a painful punishment scene from Edward. This strongly suggests Julian might emulate his ancestor's dark path, potentially setting up a new antagonist for future installments.
Image: Walt Disney Studios
Could this pave the way for Tron 4? It all hinges on Tron: Ares' box office performance. Julian's new existence in the Grid also opens doors for reviving his mother, Elisabeth (Gillian Anderson), who meets her end in the film but could be digitally resurrected in a sequel. In a chat with Polygon, Peters and Anderson revealed they have a compelling proposal for reuniting the mother-son Dillinger duo. 'We've talked about it,' Anderson shared, while Peters mused that Julian could code a virtual version of Elisabeth, emphasizing that 'in the digital world, anything's possible.' Anderson even expressed a touch of disappointment at not suiting up in a sleek Tron armor herself, joking that she could 'come alive in the Grid.'
With Ares still having loose ends in the real world and the Dillingers eyeing a comeback, the Tron universe isn't fading away anytime soon. For instance, imagine a sequel where digital resurrections challenge our ideas of life and death—much like debates in sci-fi about uploading consciousness. But is resurrecting characters ethically sound, or does it cheapen their original stories? This is where opinions diverge: some fans might cheer the innovation, while others see it as a lazy plot device.
Does Tron: Ares feature a post-credits sequence? Nope, no need to linger through the end credits for extra surprises. The only glimpse of Quorra in the film is a fleeting photo, leaving the real teases for the mid-credits.
What do you think—should Tron embrace digital revivals for its characters, or stick to fresh starts? Is the idea of a Tron 4 exciting, or just another franchise cash grab? Share your takes in the comments below; we'd love to hear if you're team resurrection or team reboot!
