Disney has released the official trailer for Tron: Ares, the highly anticipated reboot of the 1980s sci-fi classic. But unlike the original storyline of a human entering the Grid, the trailer reveals a major twist: AI has now entered the real world, with a Program sent into reality for the first time.
Marking a significant shift in the franchise’s direction, this installment redefines the Tron narrative. Here’s a look at how the live-action, trapped-in-a-video-game concept has evolved.
How Does the Plot of Tron: Ares Change?
The trailer for Tron: Ares reveals that, while the film is rooted in a familiar premise, it introduces a bold new direction.
In the beloved original Tron, Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges) becomes trapped in a digital realm known as the Grid. Its 2010 sequel, Tron: Legacy, follows his son Sam (Garrett Hedlund), who enters the same digital domain to confront the malevolent program Clu.
However, compared to the previous films, the third installment inverts the premise—this time, the digital world invades the real one.
Ares reverses the context by reversing the premise, with Ares (Jared Leto), a highly sophisticated Program, being sent to the real world on a mysterious mission.
A weaponized AI created by tech mogul Julian Dilinger (Evan Peters), Ares is described as “biblically strong, lightning fast, supremely intelligent.”
By the looks of it, the battle will be between technology and nature, as the Grid is about to interact directly with human reality this time.
The trailer illustrates how humans can be vulnerable against AI. As Dillinger puts it, “If he’s destroyed, I’ll just remake him,” hinting that people have no match to AI that can be remade anytime.
As this will be humanity’s first encounter with autonomous AI, fans have to see how Ares will go.
What is Tron: Ares About?
Tron: Ares introduces Ares, an advanced AI known for his signature red suit, symbolizing his unique and rebellious nature among digital programs.
The story centers on his inner conflict, torn between completing a dangerous mission and discovering his own identity after entering the real world.
“Ares, a sophisticated program, is sent from the digital world to the real world on a perilous mission, marking humanity’s first encounter with beings created by artificial intelligence,” the film’s official synopsis reads.
In addition to Leto and Peters, the film also stars Greta Lee, Gillian Anderson, Hasan Minhaj, Jodie Turner-Smith, Cameron Monaghan, and Arturo Castro. Bridges returns to reprise his iconic role as Kevin Flynn.
Visually, Ares delivers what fans had hoped for—a neon-soaked spectacle that pushes the franchise’s signature aesthetics even further.
However, by leaving behind one of the elements that made the series unique —namely, humans entering the digital world —the film risks being seen as just another sci-fi story about AI invading Earth.
As this is a recurring theme fans have seen several times before, many are hopeful that Ares will still preserve Tron's distinct identity of exploring the digital unknown.
Directed by Joachim Rønning, Tron: Ares is slated to premiere on October 10.
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