Tron: Ares

director Joachim Rønning teases Jared Leto’s unique new character and his upgraded weaponry. Serving as a soft reboot for the franchise after Tron: Legacy in 2010, which was itself a loose sequel to Tron from 1982, the upcoming third film follows a highly-advanced program named Ares (Leto) as it travels from the digital world into the real world on a dangerous mission. The first Tron: Ares trailer recently provided a first look at Leto in character, teasing an epic collision of worlds as iconic Tron iconography makes the jump into a real city.

Now, following the epic first trailer, Rønning shares new details about Leto’s character in Tron: Ares during an interview with Empire. The director likens Ares to Pinocchio, revealing that the film will explore what it feels like for a computer program to experience all the nuances of the real world for the very first time:

“Not to be too clichéd, but I always thought about him a bit like Pinocchio. Ares wants to be a real boy. We talked a lot about him almost being an infant, discovering the world for the first time, and how we wanted the audience to see the world through his eyes. The little things that we take for granted, or don’t see anymore. That was important. And then a bigger theme for the film is what it takes — what it means — to be human. Especially in this case, because he’s a computer program.”

The film is also set to feature at least one exciting new prop, Rønning explains, with Ares wielding a “superior” triangular Idenтιтy Disc rather than a circular one:

“It’s definitely a weapon. And it’s just a superior disc. When you’re a part of a franchise, you want to evolve the design, although I’m sure people are gonna freak out that it’s not round: ‘Oh no!’ But we have round discs as well. Take it easy.”

Rønning’s comments accompany a new image of Leto in character looking formidably into the distance in a red and black suit in Tron: Ares. Check it out below:

What This Means For Tron: Ares

Will It Be An Improvement After Legacy?

Leto’s character will mark a franchise first for Tron, as the previous films have kept the digital Grid, which includes Tron City and Argon City, and the real world relatively separate. The key themes that the movie is interested in with the character are tried and true in the sci-fi genre, however, with Blade Runner memorably exploring similar questions about what it means to be human. Tron: Ares, though, will clearly be exploring these themes in new ways, with the blending of the digital world and the real world leading to chaos and potentially some destruction.

Whether Tron: Ares‘ novel franchise premise will make the film a success remains to be seen. Legacy earned mixed reviews from critics in 2010, but it was a moderate success at the box office, grossing $400 million worldwide. If Ares features an improved reception critically and with audiences, it could inject fresh life into the franchise, perhaps setting up a direct sequel that won’t take more than a decade to come to fruition.

Our Take On Leto’s Tron: Ares Character

Ares Could Be A Great Role For Leto

Leto is certainly a talented actor, but he has arguably struggled as a more traditional leading man figure in Hollywood. Morbius reviews, for example, were overwhelmingly negative and that film was a box office flop. Playing a computer program in Tron: Ares, however, could be the perfect fit for him, as it could take advantage of the elements that make him unique as a performer. In Blade: Runner 2049, Leto played an otherworldly kind of character to great effect, which bodes well for the upcoming sci-fi.

The introduction of new triangular discs and other franchise additions could prove divisive, but the film has an opportunity to refresh the Tron franchise, welcoming in new audiences while also appealing to long-time fans. If Ares doesn’t work, though, it’s likely that the franchise will lay dormant again for a very long time. There’s clearly a lot of pressure on Tron: Ares to succeed, but early looks are certainly promising.

Source: Empire