Tron 3 – Tron: Ares – is finally bringing the grid back to the big screen. From early plot details to casting news and a release window, we’ve gathered all the news on the third installment thus far.
Tron lives! More than four decades after the original Tron film, the franchise is still going strong. 2010’s Tron: Legacy gave fans a dazzling sequel with one of the more iconic soundtracks in recent history, and now, another follow-up is officially in the works.
14 years removed from Legacy, Tron 3, now known as Tron: Ares, is finally coming to fruition. The third chapter is moving ahead at a rapid pace only a Light Cycle could match, with a star-stuffed cast locked in, a release window nailed down, and an intriguing plot taking shape.
So to get you up to speed, here’s the full rundown on the new movie and everything there is to know about the Tron return.
Tron: Ares release date
Tron: Ares will be released in theaters on October 10, 2025.
Disney had saved that spot on the release schedule originally for an untitled project. It was then announced on April 5 that Tron would take that gap, with plenty of time reserved for post-production and visual effects.
Joachim Rønning directs.
Cast
Jared Leto stars in Tron 3 alongside Evan Peters, Gillian Anderson, Cameron Monaghan, and Jodie Turner-Smith.
Leto stars as the titular character, Ares.
Beyond Leto’s appearance, it has since been announced that Star Wars Jedi star Cameron Monaghan is joining the threequel alongside The Night Agent’s Sarah Desjardins. However, specific details on the nature of their roles remain under wraps for now.
It’s also been confirmed sci-fi royalty Gillian Anderson is joining Tron: Ares, the X-Files star committing to a mystery role with no further details revealed.
Evan Peters (Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story), Jodie Turner-Smith (The Neon Demon), Hasan Minhaj (No Hard Feelings), Arturo Castro (Narcos), and Greta Lee (Russian Doll) round out the cast.
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Jeff Bridges has confirmed he will return as Kevin Flynn, reprising his role from Tron and Tron: Legacy. Other new additions to the franchise from Tron: Legacy, namely Garrett Hedlund as Flynn’s son Sam and Olivia Wilde as Quorra, are not confirmed or rumored to return.
Cast list:
- Jared Leto as Ares
- Evan Peters as Julian Dillinger
- Greta Lee as Eve Kim
- Jeff Bridges as Kavin Flynn
Plot
The synopsis reads, “Tron: Ares follows a highly sophisticated Program, Ares, who is sent from the digital world into the real world on a dangerous mission, marking humankind’s first encounter with A.I. beings.”
Initial reports indicated the movie’s plot would follow on from the events on Tron: Legacy and a newer press release from Disney doubles down on such rumblings.
It appears Leto’s character, Ares, is set to make the jump from the digital world of the grid, into the real world we humans inhabit. The purpose of his journey and where things go from there all remain a mystery for the time being.
Is there a Tron: Ares trailer?
There are no trailers or teasers for Tron: Ares as of the time of this writing.
However, we did get a first look at the film on February 29, 2024, with a poster showing off the Ares character.
At D23 2024, fans were shown some early footage, set to a score composed by Nine Inch Nails.
The footage showed Peters’ Dillinger during a keynote presentation. “Since time began, man has gazed at the stars and wondered, am I alone?” he said.
“Turns out we’ve been looking in the wrong direction, because intelligent life does exist — but it’s not out there, it’s in here. So much talk of AI and big tech, virtual worlds, when are we gonna get there? Well, folks, we’re not going. They are coming here.”
For more video game film adaptations, check out Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Return to Silent Hill, Metal Gear Solid movie, and the Bioshock movie.
