Jared Leto Invades Our Reality In The Tron: Ares Trailer

Look, somebody wants these things…

My theory about the Tron movies is that there is a small group of people who really, enthusiastically like them, but that niche enthusiasm never translates to much cultural staying power. Enough people showed up to make Tron: Legacy a box office success, but its footprint makes Avatar‘s look indelible. Maybe because Tron has never been much of a story; it’s more of a vibe.

I get it; some of my closest are Tron proselytisers and, but for the grace of God, I could be one too. But so far everything Tron-shaped has been a handful of cool ideas and striking images (and the odd bangin’ soundtrack) wrapped in a lot of meh. But maybe third time’s the charm. Someone certainly thinks so, because here comes Tron: Ares.

Tron: Ares Trailer

What’s the plot?

Picking up on a weird plot thread in Tron: Legacy, Ares sees walking PR liability Jared Leto as the titular character (the one after the colon). According to the official logline, “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.”

However, looking at the trailer, Ares appears to be the creation of a human tech lab, so things aren’t exactly clear. Back in Tron: Legacy, Olivia Wilde played Quorra, an “isomorphic algorithm” – a sort of naturally occurring artificial intelligence. How Ares connects with that concept, which was sort of dropped into the movie and then largely forgotten about, is anyone’s guess.

What we do know is that Tron: Ares is directed by Joachim Rønning (Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil), who’s a capable enough journeyman, working from a script by Jesse Wigutow. Oh, and Nine Inch Nails are on soundtrack duties, seeing as Daft Punk split up.

Who’s in it?

• Jared Leto as Ares
• Greta Lee as Eve Kim
• Evan Peters as Julian Dillinger
• Jodie Turner-Smith as Athena
• Gillian Anderson as Elisabeth Dillinger
• Jeff Bridges as Kevin Flynn
• Sarah Desjardins
• Hasan Minhaj
• Arturo Castro
• Cameron Monaghan

When’s it out?

Tron: Ares is in Australian cinemas from October 9 2025.

What’s the vibe?

Eh, look, maybe? It sure looks pretty, and sometimes the aesthetic alone is enough. But while the prospect of seeing light cycles in the real world and other reality-bending folderol is appealing, I can’t say the story has set its hook in me.