The good news is that Disney’s TRON franchise is not dead. Whether Flynn lives remains to be seen. As for where director Garth Davis will take this world, it’s definitely not going to be in our reality. This up-and-coming talent is best known for his biographical drama Lion, and the plan is no doubt to make this film roar. The working title is TRON: Ares—perhaps a nod to the God of War?—as revealed in a tweet that has since been modified.
Disney previously scrapped plans for a direct sequel to Legacy, leaving the reasons undisclosed. Many fans feared all future possibilities had been derezzed. Thankfully, that’s not the case. Shanghai Disney Resort has featured the Lightcycle Power Run roller coaster since 2016, and with its proper U.S. debut in 2021, interest in this property clearly isn’t dead—it’s just been idling in standby mode.
Variety reported yesterday that Davis will direct the new film, with Deadline first breaking the story. He’s still a newcomer to Hollywood, but his 2016 film Lion clearly caught Disney’s attention.
So far, we know that Jared Leto has signed on to star, and Jesse Wigutow has penned the latest version of the script, which is still in development. The film has not yet been green-lit, but I suspect what we’ll get will be more of a reboot than a continuation of 2010’s storyline. Given Leto’s history with villainous roles, we might see a fresh perspective on life inside the Game Grid—perhaps a prison-break tale where anti-heroes become unexpected saviors.
Virtual or augmented reality could also play a role in this new vision. While VR hasn’t hit the mainstream heights analysts predicted, AR still has strong potential. It’s easier for consumers to embrace a lightweight tech that lets them peer into the digital world than one requiring full immersion. And although the digital realm of TRON exists in a closed system located at Flynn’s Arcade, maybe it’s time to connect it to the Internet. A modern upgrade could open up bold new narrative possibilities. While Legacy featured 3D elements, it never fully leapt out of the screen—this next chapter could change that.
A TRON film can hardly be complete without Bruce Boxleitner and Jeff Bridges. While it’s possible to make a movie without them, their absence from the Grid would leave the project lacking its soul. Perhaps that’s why TRON: Uprising struggled to connect with audiences. Seeing either actor reprise their role—or at least lend their voice—in a version 3.0 would make all the difference. Any announcement about their involvement will likely be saved for the last moment, when the project is officially green-lit.
TRON at Disney Parks
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