The following contains spoilers for Tron: AresTron: Ares brings back Jeff Bridges as Kevin Flynn, but audiences aren’t sure if it’s the same version of the character who appeared before. The protagonist of 1982’s Tron, Kevin Flynn, was a brilliant programmer who was sucked into a computer. Tron: Legacy focused on his son and revealed Flynn had become trapped in the Grid after returning to it.

Tron: Ares focuses on different characters than previous Tron films, building on the discoveries established in previous films. However, Jeff Bridges returns as Flynn as a surprise guide for Ares. This initially seems to contradict his fate in Tron: Legacy, but the film actually gives this new Flynn a fairly clever explanation that doesn’t undo the last film.

How Kevin Flynn Returns In Tron: Ares After Dying In Tron: Legacy

The Kevin Flynn who appears in Tron: Ares isn’t the same exact person as the one who died in the previous Tron film, allowing Jeff Bridges to reprise the role without ret-conning the events Tron: Legacy. A major element of the plot in Tron: Ares is the hunt for the permanence code, which Flynn cracked decades ago.

If the code can be rediscovered, it would allow programs to be brought to the real world and not suffer from dematerialization after 29 minutes. Reinforcing Flynn’s singular brilliance as a programmer, the permanence code gives the film reason to bring back the character’s legacy to the forefront of the narrative.

Locating the code in a server that Flynn designed in secret, Eve becomes the target of Julian Dillinger and his agents, Athena and Ares. Once Ares switches sides, he is sent into the server to find the code. It is there that he meets a digital copy of Flynn, who speaks with Ares about existence before giving him the code.

Notably, this is not the same Flynn who appeared in Tron and Tron: Legacy. Rather, this is merely a recreation of Flynn that reflects his personality, intellect, and philosophy. This means that Tron: Ares doesn’t contradict the fate of the character in Tron: Legacy, where he sacrificed himself to save Sam and Quorra from his darker digital avatar, Clu.

This means that a version of Flynn does still live on, even if in secret and away from the prying eyes of the world at large. It’s unclear if Flynn’s son Sam is aware some aspect of his father survived. However, it allows Flynn (arguably the most important character in the franchise) a chance to factor into Tron: Ares‘ ending.

For the most part, Tron: Ares doesn’t bring back many elements or characters from the previous films. Instead, it focuses more on the legacy of those storylines and how new generations are utilizing them. Bringing back Flynn to recognize the growth in a program’s potential feels like a fitting hand-off from the old films to the future of the franchise.

Will Kevin Flynn Return In Future Tron Films?

It’s possible Flynn could return for a future Tron story, but it seems unlikely. The digital copy of Flynn only exists within the private server, meaning any return for the character would require revisiting that setting or unlocking it for the wider world. Instead, Tron: Ares sets it up as a final resting place for what remains of Flynn.

Bringing back the digital copy of Flynn does undercut the sacrifice of Flynn in Tron: Legacy, but it can work in small doses like with Ares. Having the concept return for extended periods of time could further diminish the loss of the original Flynn, especially if Sam were to return for a prospective sequel.

There’s also the reality of Jeff Bridges’ advancing age. Bridges is one of the few consistencies between all the Tron films, appearing in all three films. At the time of this writing, Jeff Bridges is 75. There will be a point where Bridges either retires or pᴀsses away, potentially before the next Tron movie.

The character of Flynn is so deeply constructed atop of Bridges and his performance that it would feel odd seeing the character formally recast. Flynn also feels like he’s been given a genuine send-off in both Tron sequels, reinforcing that his legacy lives on even if he is no longer an active participant in the story.

Even if the digital copy of Flynn doesn’t return, it’s worth remembering that it’s not the real Flynn. That character is gone, having sacrificed himself to save his son and student against his corrupted digital self. Bringing Flynn back for anything more than his short appearance in Tron: Ares would feel hollow on some level without actively reversing Flynn’s fate.

The Flynn in Tron: Ares isn’t the real one, and the franchise shouldn’t bring him back after his sacrifice in Legacy. With the series charting a new future forward, it would be better suited to keep his legacy alive while allowing the character to rest. Tron: Ares is likely the last time we’ll see any version of Kevin Flynn.