The first look at TRON: Ares presents a ridiculous concept for the franchise’s third film, but it’s precisely what I wanted to see after TRON: Legacy. TRON: Ares, the third film in the TRON franchise, has the potential to take the saga in an exciting direction later this year.

TRON: Ares, which stars Jared Leto as the тιтular character alongside Jeff Bridges reprising his beloved role of Kevin Flynn, is set to arrive in theaters later this fall, 15 years after TRON: Legacy was in theaters. The TRON franchise has its cult following, although the financial returns have never been as enticing as other Disney properties, with TRON: Legacy once being viewed as a franchise killer. With that in mind, if TRON: Ares focuses on the right aspects of the film, it could buck this trend.

The TRON Ships Are Bizarre (And TRON: Ares Makes That Terrifying)

The Unique Shape And Functionality Of The TRON Vehicles Is Scary When Interacting With The Real World

I love the design of the various vehicles found throughout the TRON universe. The light bikes are the most iconic, and the trailer for TRON: Ares showcases the danger they pose in the real world after being teleported into a different environment. The other ships, which include tanks, trains, and large capital vessels, are also extremely creative. With that said, the TRON vehicles are quite bizarre. None are more emblematic of this than the recognizers, appearing as giant floating arches.

In the trailer for TRON: Ares, a recognizer craft can be seen floating through the skyscrapers of a city, demonstrating its immense size. It’s framed similarly to a kaiju, reminding me of the Monsterverse’s Godzilla latest foray into an unsuspecting downtown. Additionally, the stream effect that follows the iconic light bike cuts a police car in half, a compelling visual that is effective at showcasing its destructive abilities.

TRON: Ares Looks Like It’s A Disaster Movie, And I Love That

The First Trailer For The Third TRON Film Hones In On The Scary Implications Of The Digital TRON World Coming To Life

During the first trailer for TRON: Ares, star Greta Lee is pictured looking up at the TRON invasion in terror. This sH๏τ, combined with Lee’s expression, evokes feelings similar to those of a character staring at an oncoming storm or tidal wave in a disaster movie. Although the storyline of the third TRON film is more akin to that of an alien invasion, I’m entirely in favor of the disaster movie vibes the sequel is conjuring.

The conceit of TRON: Aries, which flips the concept of the first two films by bringing the digital TRON elements into the real world, is inherently terrifying. As a viewer, I already know what to expect from these movies in the digital realm, so the decision to bring them to life on Earth might be a stroke of genius, even if the video game coming to life premise is played out. Watching the digital TRON elements interact with Earthly environments creates a large sandbox for potential spectacle.

TRON Has Always Looked Weird, And I Love That Means It Can Be Scary

The TRON Visual Styles Lends Itself To Horror Better Than You Might Think

I don’t think there are other franchises with such a distinct visual landscape like TRON. Whether it’s the original film with boundary-pushing graphics in 1982 or its sequel, TRON: Legacy from 2010, which shaped the decades’ run of blockbusters, thanks to its vibrant, neon colors dazzling audiences worldwide, TRON is a franchise cemented by its visual makeup. TRON: Ares continues in this grand tradition, swapping out many of the blue tones from its predecessors for a more aggressive shade of red.

The new red aesthetic, plus the exciting TRON: Ares score composed by Nine Inch Nails, could establish a fresh and frightening new take on the TRON material. I’m excited to see humanity’s first encounter with the A.I. programs, and if TRON: Ares delivers on the sci-fi action, set pieces, and scares, Disney might have added another beloved entry to the franchise.