Disney’s sci-fi threequel Tron: Ares has added two new actors, including a fan favorite Shameless and Gotham star. Following on from 2010’s sequel Tron: Legacy, the franchise’s latest installment is set to feature Jared Leto as the titular computer program named after the Greek god of war. Previous casting announcements have also revealed that Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story star Evan Peters will also appear in an undisclosed role alongside Greta Lee and Jodie Turner-Smith.

Per Deadline, the cast roster for Tron: Ares has expanded to include Cameron Monaghan and Sarah Desjardins in more undisclosed roles. In addition to being known for his time on Shameless and the Batman prequel series Gotham, Monaghan has also earned widespread recognition as the Jedi Knight Cal Kestis from the Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and Survivor games. Meanwhile, Desjardins currently appears in Showtime’s Yellowjackets as the daughter of Melanie Lynskey’s character Shauna.

How Tron: Ares Differs From Disney’s Original Tron 3 Plans

Expectations were high back in 2010 when Tron: Legacy was first released in theaters, picking up 28 years after the original 1982 cult classic's event. While the original Tron was only considered a moderate success during its own release, it was lauded for its technical innovations, and its subsequent move to home video would turn it into a much-beloved cult classic. Gifted with the benefit of an established fanbase and instant brand recognition, it was predicted that the 2010 sequel would eventually build a franchise that could rival the success of Disney’s The Pirates of the Caribbean movies.

While the 2010 sequel did manage to turn a reasonable profit, reviews were mixed, and the initial audience reception was lukewarm at best. Nonetheless, Tron: Legacy enjoyed enough success to eventually prompt Disney to greenlight a third film rumored to be titled Tron: Ascension. Initially intended to feature the return of Garrett Hedlund’s Sam Flynn and Olivia Wilde’s Quorra, filming was scheduled to begin in October 2015, but the project was later canceled in May of that year.

While Leto’s Tron 3 character Ares reportedly owes his origins to Disney’s original Tron: Ascension script, it is likely the story has since undergone considerable changes in the past eight years it has been sitting in the development pipeline. Moreover, it is looking increasingly likely that the new threequel will not feature Hedlund and Wilde’s characters, nor Cillian Murphy’s villainous Edward Dillinger Jr. Exactly what direction Tron: Ares may take in their absence remains to be seen, but hopefully, it fares better than its predecessor.

Source: Deadline