Summary

• Tron: Ares will feature the return of franchise star Jeff Bridges.
• Other previous cast , such as Garrett Hedlund and Olivia Wilde, are not confirmed to return for Tron 3.
• While Kevin Flynn's story has concluded, Sam and Quorra's journeys remain more open, making their return for Tron: Ares more fitting.

Set to be released in October 2025, controversial decision to cast Jared Leto as the film's protagonist. Although Leto's Ares is a completely new character for the Tron franchise, Bridges' return indicates that Kevin Flynn, a computer programmer and video game developer who was the first person transported inside the software-made world of a mainframe computer, will still have a bearing on the third movie.

Aside from Bridges, other of previous Tron films' casts have not been confirmed for Tron 3...

In addition to Bridges and Leto, an impressive cast of characters is set to appear in Tron: Ares. Coming off an award-worthy performance in Past Lives, Greta Lee will be ing the fray, as will Evan Peters (American Horror Story), Hasan Minhaj (Patriot Act), Jodie-Turner-Smith (After Yang), and Gillian Anderson (The X-Files). Aside from Bridges, other of previous Tron films' casts have not been confirmed for Tron 3, which is part of the reason Kevin Flynn's return is both an exciting and frustrating development for the cult classic sci-fi franchise.

TRON: Ares Is Bringing Back Jeff Bridges Instead Of Legacy's Leads

Garrett Hedlund & Olivia Wilde Are Not Confirmed

After the original Tron was released in 1982, its ground-breaking special effects and inventive costumes and production designed impressed audiences. Even so, it was something of a fringe hit. The incredibly dazzling Tron's box office performance didn't match up with its towering budget. Despite faltering a bit in theaters, Tron went on to make Disney millions on the merchandising front, spawning several video game tie-ins and comic book series. However, decades later, the cult film finally received a sequel with Tron: Legacy.

Released in 2010, Tron: Legacy centers on Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund), Kevin's son, who is transported inside a VR mainframe, "the Grid," after responding to a message that's supposedly been sent by his long-lost father. Alongside a personified isomorphic algorithm, Quorra (Olivia Wilde), Sam is tasked with stopping the villainous program Clu (also Bridges) from taking over the real world. Despite making a whopping $400 million at the box office, Tron: Legacy's planned sequel never came to fruition. Now, the decision to bring back Bridges for Tron: Ares but not Hedlund or Wilde is incredibly disappointing.

TRON 3 Needs Legacy's Main Characters More Than Jeff Bridges

Sam Flynn & Quorra Have More Story To Tell

At the end of Tron: Legacy, Kevin Flynn reintegrates with Clu, his digital duplicate, which destroys the malevolent program once and for all. Meanwhile, Quorra escapes with Sam into the real world, while Flynn's sacrificial play generates a massive explosion inside the Grid. Before reclaiming control of ENCOM, Sam backs up and deactivates the system, leaving the door open to another Tron adventure. That said, Kevin Flynn's story has reached a logical and fitting conclusion. Tron: Legacy allowed Jeff Bridges to the torch. With Sam and Quorra's stories somewhat unfinished, their return in Tron: Ares would be more suitable.