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Summary
Disney has yet to deliver aTRON: Aresupdate that truly excites fans about the upcoming film. For a standalone sequel set to release fifteen years afterTRON: Legacy, the hype seems mellow, especially due to a lack of promise in the cast and crew — save for perhaps a few. One name, in particular, stands out as the only aspect worth looking forward to.
The 15-year gap betweenLegacyandAresfeels insignificant compared to the originalTRON, which debuted in 1982. This makes the timeframe between the first two movies similar to the time span betweenTop GunorMad Maxfilms and their reboots. However, a thirdTRONfilm, once tentatively titledTR3N, has been in the works since immediately after the 2010 film. Over time, Disney opted for a reboot instead of a direct sequel and made some reshuffling moves that didn’t land as hoped. However, the upcoming film’s music could be a strong point.
Nine Inch Nails Will ScoreTRON: Ares
From all the updates onTRON: Aresso far, only one addition to the crew makes perfect sense and, most importantly, offers a lifeline to fan expectations. The film’s score will be composed by industrial rock pioneersNine Inch Nails. The iconic music duo of Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross were confirmed as the soundtrack creators forTRON: AresatDisney’s D23 Expoin August 2024. To their credit, the pair have twice won the Academy Award for Best Original Score, forThe Social Networkin 2010 andPixar’sSoul(along with Jon Batiste) in 2020. There’s no denying their skill when it comes to creating music for the big screen.
Reznor and Ross have been frequent collaborators on films and TV shows. However, what’s particularly intriguing in this case is thatTRON: Aresis the first movie to credit them specifically asNine Inch Nails. This suggests the band will revisit their industrial rock roots – a sound palette perfect for the futuristic, digital reality of The Grid inTRON. Considering their recent pulsating electronic scores for theZendaya filmChallengers, it’s safe to say they are in top form to deliver aTRON: Aressoundtrack for the ages.
A Grittier Industrial Sound ForTRON: Ares
Daft Punk’s legendary score forTRON: Legacysets a high bar for Nine Inch Nails to match or surpass. Inan interview withEmpire,TRON: Aresdirector Joachim Rønning explained how the shift in musical styles between the two groups benefits the film and its broader story:
With Nine Inch Nails making the music, this installment will be a little grittier, a little more industrial. It’s been important for me to contrast The Grid and the real world. In that sense, Nine Inch Nails lends itself perfectly to this newTRONworld we are creating.
Director And Casting Choices Raise Concerns ForTRON: Ares
Unfortunately, it seems the music department has got the only hype-worthyTRON: Aresannouncement. Previous credits ofdirector, Joachim RønningincludePirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No TalesandMaleficent: Mistress of Evil. Neither major Disney sequel is regarded as anywhere close to being good movies. The primary cast doesn’t inspire much confidence either, withJared Leto taking the lead roleand serving as one of the producers.
There’s no question about the 52-year-old star’s acting chops or his fit for a sci-fi setting. HisBlade Runner 2049role is enough proof. However, the shadow ofMorbiusand its colossal failure(and subsequent ridicule) now looms over theTRONfranchise. It’s not just Leto himself, but also his titular character and storyline that raise mild concerns. According to the official synopsis, Ares is a sophisticated program sent fromthe digital world into the real world. This is a reversal of the traditionalTRONpremise, which primarilytakes place in cyberspace. It’s a significant change that doesn’t inspire confidence in longtime fans.
Jeff Bridges Returns, ButTRONFans Remain Skeptical
If there’s anything to look forward to, it’s the return of Jeff Bridges as Kevin Flynn from the earlier films. Other notable cast members include Evan Peters, Greta Lee, Jodie Turner-Smith, Hasan Minhaj, and Gillian Anderson. The technical crew looks solid, with David Fincher’s frequent collaborator Jeff Cronenweth as cinematographer andThe BatmanalumnusTyler Nelson handling editing. So,TRON: Aresdoes boast some big names, but they don’t seem to boost enough confidence for a great film. At least, not according to fans who have expressed their skepticism on social media.
Both previousTRONfilms received lukewarm critical and box office reception, but grew into cult classics over time. It’s natural for fans to expect (or even demand) the best names in the business for their franchise, however niche it may be.Disney’s decision to opt for a spinoff-style rebootover a sequel continuing the older storyline isn’t all that appealing either. The fate ofTRON: Aresremains to be seen when it hits theaters on July 05, 2025.
