After many years of development, Tron: Ares is finally coming off the grid and onto the screen, delivering a new sci-fi tale set in a fictional cyberspace that resonates in today's tech headlines.
While critics panned the new film's obvious plot and boring characters, the mid-credits scene clearly hints at another sequel (more on that later). But will Tron 4 be continued after the last film's poor start?
According to director Joachim Rönning, “it always depends on how many people want to see it.” Here's what Renning along with Tron: Ares the producers told me about the likelihood of another part being released and where the Tron universe could develop next.
Tron: Ares hinting at a sequel?
Spoilers for the ending follow. Throne: Ares, come back now if you haven't seen it.
If you read my Tron: Ares review (mild spoilers), then you'll learn that there's a mid-credits scene that suggests Dillinger Systems CEO Julian Dillinger, played by Evan Peters, may return in future installments.
After breaking into Dillinger's Grill to avoid arrest, Dillinger's digital self wears a light-up suit that will look familiar to fans of the original 1982 film. This is because the V-shaped helmet he wears is almost identical to the one worn by Sark, the villain from the first film.
This suggests that there is already a potential storyline that Disney could develop. But of course, nothing is confirmed yet, and besides, the sequel won't necessarily follow the lead. Tron: Ares posted.
After all, the script for the third part was adapted from a canceled film. Throne: Ascensionwhich was supposed to be a direct continuation Tron: Legacy. In fact, if it weren't for that early draft, then Tron: Ares might not exist at all.
“[Jared Leto]“That’s a big reason why we’re sitting here,” Renning said. “He saw the character [in that early draft] and said, “This is the character I want to play, so let me know if you ever want to do [Ares] main character.”
What could the next Tron movie be?
The Tron franchise has always been about technology and, as Renning puts it, “giving a glimpse of tomorrow.” This has become a formula that many will recognize. Indeed, according to one of the producers on Throne: Ares, Sean Bailey: “Every Tron movie should have three goals: talk about the future, introduce technological innovation, and explore our relationship with technology.”
Steven Lisberger's original film envisioned the rise of home computing, and Joseph Kosinski's subsequent sequel expanded on the future of artificial intelligence in the Internet age. IN Throne: Ares, an artificial intelligence program is struggling to exist in the real world, which is where we find ourselves today.
Although the concept was written before the advent of ChatGPT, the rapid pace of technological advancement means that many of the ideas the film explores for physical devices with AI agents and 3D printing have begun to come to fruition.
“A lot of the ideas we had initially have started to come to fruition in the last few years,” said Justin Springer, another producer who worked on the film. “And obviously there is a lively discussion about artificial intelligence and the role it will play in our lives in the future.”
It wouldn't be surprising if the next iteration Throne explores how humans and machines can coexist in the real world, similar to what we saw in iRobotor tackles the metaverse and the blurred boundaries of humanity through digital realities, as in Ready first player.
What did the Tron: Ares team say about the sequel?
With a few hints about something else Throne movie, it's reasonable to assume that a sequel is already in mind. Tron: Ares crew, although nothing is guaranteed.
“We threw a couple fun things in there for the fans and maybe created a couple things, but really we're just trying to have fun with this movie,” Bailey said of a possible sequel.
Renning was even more enigmatic: “It all depends on how many people want to see it… I just wanted to have fun with some of these Easter eggs and see if we're lucky enough to continue the journey.”
