Summary

  • Tron: Ares director Joachim Rønning reveals on Instagram that filming for the movie has been shut down indefinitely due to writers' and actors' strikes, resulting in 150 layoffs.
  • Rønning calls out the AMPTP, WGA, and SAG-AFTRA to negotiate faster because of the impact on Tron: Ares production and the number of people who have lost their jobs.
  • The future of Tron: Ares remains uncertain as the director emphasizes the need for resolution in the ongoing strikes.

Tron: Ares director Joachim Rønning has opened up about the movie's current status, saying 150 people were laid off as filming has been delayed indefinitely. A sequel to 2010's Tron: Legacy, the new installment stars Jared Leto as the main character, Ares. Filming for the movie was underway when the Hollywood writers' and actors' strikes began.

Now, filming for Tron: Ares has been shut down for the foreseeable future because of the ongoing writers and actors strikes.

Rønning also reveals 150 people working on the film have been laid off. He calls out the AMPTP, WGA, and SAG-AFTRA to negotiate faster, given Tron: Ares shuttering production and laying off so many people. Read the full post below:

The absolute best moments of my career have been watching an actor perform in front of the camera – taking the scene and the text to a higher place. I’ve been fortunate to collaborate with amazing talent. It’s a huge part of why I’m a filmmaker. However, like myself, being an actor or a writer, means you’re a freelancer. And I can tell you, the constant uncertainty is not for everyone. To that end I don't think it's unreasonable to ask for a better safety net.

Many of my best friends are writers. Everything starts with the story. Everything starts with you. That must continue. And that means that AI needs to be regulated. There is no doubt about the threat the technology poses to all creatives.

Today was supposed to be our first day of principal photography on TRON: ARES (a movie subsequently about AI and what it means, and takes, to be human). Instead, we are shut down with over a hundred and fifty people laid off. It’s indefinite, which makes it exponentially harder for everyone.

The AMPTP, SAG-AFTRA and WGA need to speed up the negotiating process and not leave the table until it’s done. This is Hollywood. We close deals for breakfast. Why do we suddenly have all the time in the world when every day is so precious? These tactics are extremely frustrating. It’s time for diplomacy so we can get back to work – under conditions that are fair to everybody.

How Hollywood Productions Have Been Impacted By The Strikes

Emma Stone wearing a yellow dress in Poor Things and Asha in Wish animated movie

Tron: Ares isn’t the only movie to have production shut down due to the ongoing writers' and actors' strikes. Production on highly-anticipated films, such as Deadpool 3, the live-action Lilo & Stitch, and shows like American Horror Story, have all had production impacted by the strike. Some finished movies have also been affected, with Disney pushing the release of Poor Things starring Emma Stone on of no actors being able to promote the movie while on strike.

However, what makes the production shutdown of Tron: Ares unique is Rønning’s acknowledgment of the number of layoffs that have happened because of the strike. It’s clear that, without actors and writers producing content for AMPTP studios, many other crew behind the scenes could be laid off. This highlights just how important it is for negotiations to continue for both actors and writers fighting for fair contracts, as well as crew concerned about job security.

It's unclear how much the writers' and actors' strikes will impact Tron: Ares' scheduled release. While there isn't any official word on when it will arrive in theaters, reports claim it won't be seen until 2025 regardless of its current filming status. Despite the setbacks and the hardship of layoffs, Tron: Ares will hopefully be able to continue production again once the dual strikes have ended.

Source: Joachim Rønning/Instagram