Exciting Reveal at Comic-Con for “Tron: Ares”
“Tron: Ares” made a stunning impact at San Diego Comic-Con during its panel on Friday night, featuring a breathtaking laser-light show that accompanied the pulsating original score by Nine Inch Nails. The panel also showcased two extended clips from the film and concluded with a music video for the song “As Alive as You Need Me to Be” by NIN.
Franchise History and Context
This film marks the third installment in a surprisingly enduring franchise, which Disney acknowledged through an extensive trailer summarizing the previous two films. The original, “Tron,” was released in 1982 and stars Jeff Bridges as Kevin Flynn, a programmer who finds himself trapped in a digital universe called the Grid. Although groundbreaking for its use of CGI, it earned around $50 million globally. Its sequel, “Tron: Legacy,” released 28 years later, featured Bridges in dual roles and was more commercially successful, grossing approximately $410 million worldwide.
Overview of “Tron: Ares”
“Tron: Ares” arrives 15 years after “Legacy” and takes the narrative beyond the virtual world for the first time. Jared Leto portrays the title character, a digital soldier brought into reality by Evan Peters’ tech mogul character, Julian Dillinger—named after the antagonist from the original film. Bridges reprises his role as Flynn, with further details about his character to be revealed later.
Film Clips Showcase Action
The first clip featured an exciting lightcycle chase, where Dillinger appears to digitally create Ares and his ally Athena (Jodie Turner-Smith), along with their lightcycles. Dillinger insists they have only 30 minutes to find Eve Kim (Greta Lee), who possesses critical code on a memory stick after leaving Dillinger’s company, Encom. Ares uses traffic cameras to track Eve, but she escapes, taking Athena’s lightcycle in the process.
Panel Highlights and Insights
In the second clip, Eve enters the Grid, where Ares saves her from a vast digital ocean. He conjures a lightboat as they speed toward a portal back to the real world, pursued by drones sent by Athena. Eve marvels at this visually stunning digital realm and agrees to assist Ares in finding the crucial code.
Cast and Production Insights
During the panel, Leto, who has been involved with the film since 2017, expressed his excitement as a “Tron” superfan and joked about his enthusiasm, recalling a moment when he accidentally yelled “cut” during filming. Bridges shared his joy in continuing the legacy of “Tron” after 43 years, albeit with some initial apprehension over new challenges in portraying a digital program.
Final Thoughts and Release Date
Moderated by filmmaker Kevin Smith, the panel remained upbeat, steering clear of past controversies surrounding Leto. Co-stars Arturo Castro and Hasan Minhaj humorously commented on the film’s fictional company and its parallels to Disney, adding to the lighthearted atmosphere. “Tron: Ares” is set to hit theaters on October 10.
