A highly advanced program called Ares crosses from the digital world into the real one on a dangerous mission that tests the boundary between AI and humanity.
Directed by Joachim Rønning and written by Jesse Wigutow (story by Wigutow and David DiGilio), the film leans into sleek sci-fi action while honouring the legacy of the original. Tron: Ares takes the Tron franchise in a bold new direction mostly out of the Grid.
Jared Leto brings an intense, cool presence to Ares, and though the film doesn’t dig as deep as it could into the “fish-out-of-water” or higher-intelligence themes it hints at, his performance consistently heightens the mood and gives the story a centre of gravity. Greta Lee as Eve Kim and Evan Peters as Julian Dillinger also deliver strong turns, while Gillian Anderson adds gravitas in a key role. Jodie Turner-Smith add some pizzazz and intensity. There’s a nod to David Warner’s Edward/Sark, Jeff Bridges’ appearance, a nod to his original Tron role as Kevin Flynn, is brief but welcome, grounding Ares within the broader franchise and giving longtime fans a moment to savour.
Tonally, Tron: Ares is a little more linear and grounded in real-world stakes than Tron: Legacy, and that can make the narrative feel less daring at times. Evan Peters, in particular, feels slightly underused, with much of his character’s arc confined to one location rather than fully expanding. That said, the stunts and effects are excellent — crisp, kinetic sequences that deliver visual thrill and energy — and the film’s real-world segments build logically on the ending of Legacy even if you find yourself wishing for more time exploring the luminous digital world of the Grid.
The score and soundtrack by Nine Inch Nails (Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross) is fitting, it propels the action and mood even though it doesn’t reach the heights of Daft Punk’s work on Legacy.
Tron: Ares may not fully realise every thematic ambition it gestures toward, but it is surprisingly the most rounded of the series so far, confident in its design, strong in its performances, and thoroughly worthwhile.
Both the ending and the end-credits scene tease of a fourth instalment, which I’d welcome. Recommended.
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