Tron: Ares’ morally grey legacy villains and original movie connections have been teased in an exciting new interview with stars. The long-awaited third chapter in the Tron franchise will bring back Jeff Bridges as Kevin Flynn, as well as introduce an all-new ensemble cast including Jared Leto (as Ares), Evan Peters, Greta Lee, Gillian Anderson, Jodie Turner-Smith and others.
Directed by Joachim Rønning (Pirates of the Caribbean: ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Men Tell No Tales, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil), Tron: Ares is set for theatrical release on October 10. The film will follow Ares, a sophisticated program who is sent from the digital realm into the real world on a dangerous mission, signaling humanity’s first direct encounter with artificial intelligence.
In an interview with Collider, stars Evan Peters and Gillian Anderson offered insight into the Dillinger family in Tron: Ares. When asked if they are good or bad, Peters remarked, “in their castle, they’re just kind of like Bert and Ernie hanging out,” before stating that Anderson’s Elisabeth is the “moral compᴀss of it all, trying to keep Julian in line.”
Anderson agreed, explaining that Elisabeth Dillinger is aware “what the history of the company was and the fact that it all began with stolen goods.” She emphasized, “Even though I don’t think that she is entirely behind the company moving towards weapons,” Elisabeth doesn’t exactly shut it down before the end, making her a “complicated” and “complex female character.”
What This Tease Means For Tron: Ares
Evan Peters and Gillian Anderson’s comments seem to suggest that Tron: Ares’ villains aren’t going to be one-dimensional, but flawed people shaped by legacy, ambition, and internal conflict. Julian Dillinger, in particular, appears to be driven by power and heritage, while Elisabeth Dillinger may wrestle with moral responsibility and complicity, and her role might become a turning point in the film.
This also strengthens the connection to the original Tron lore as the Dillinger lineage, corporate ethics, and consequences of technological misuse were central in earlier Tron films. Consequently, this film’s exploration of AI entering the real world, combined with inherited guilt and corporate history, shows that Tron: Ares will blend action and sci-fi spectacle with a deeper ethical subtext.
Our Take On Tron: Ares’ Villain Tease
The revelation that the Dillinger family aren’t purely evil but morally grey gives Tron: Ares an opportunity to stand apart in the sci-fi genre. Today’s audiences often appreciate villains who have internal struggles, complex natures and overall relatability. If done well, these Dillinger characters might provide emotional depth, raising the stakes beyond battles and neon visuals with something more grounded.
It looks like Tron: Ares won’t just be about external conflict, but also internal battles, which could be quite cool. As a result, Tron: Ares may force viewers to consider deeper themes about what it means to be a villain in a world where the line between human and program, right and wrong, past and future, is increasingly blurry.
