The first look atTRON: Arespresents a ridiculous concept for the franchise’s third film, but it’s precisely what I wanted to see afterTRON: Legacy.TRON: Ares, the third film in theTRONfranchise, has the potential to take the saga in an exciting direction later this year.
TRON: Ares, which stars Jared Leto as the titular characteralongside Jeff Bridges reprising his beloved role of Kevin Flynn, is set to arrive in theaters later this fall, 15 years afterTRON: Legacywas in theaters. TheTRONfranchise has its cult following, although the financial returns have never been as enticing as other Disney properties, withTRON: Legacyonce being viewed asa franchise killer. With that in mind,ifTRON: Aresfocuses on the right aspects of the film, it could buck this trend.
The TRON Ships Are Bizarre (And TRON: Ares Makes That Terrifying)
The Unique Shape And Functionality Of The TRON Vehicles Is Scary When Interacting With The Real World
I love the design of the various vehicles found throughout theTRONuniverse.The light bikes are the most iconic, and thetrailer forTRON: Aresshowcases the danger they pose in the real world after being teleported into a different environment. The other ships, which include tanks, trains, and large capital vessels, are also extremely creative. With that said, theTRONvehicles are quite bizarre. None are more emblematic of this than the recognizers, appearing as giant floating arches.
In the trailer forTRON: Ares, a recognizer craft can be seen floating through the skyscrapers of a city, demonstrating its immense size. It’s framed similarly to a kaiju, reminding me of the Monsterverse’s Godzilla latest foray into an unsuspecting downtown. Additionally, the stream effect that follows the iconic light bike cuts a police car in half,a compelling visual that is effective at showcasing its destructive abilities.
TRON: Ares Looks Like It’s A Disaster Movie, And I Love That
The First Trailer For The Third TRON Film Hones In On The Scary Implications Of The Digital TRON World Coming To Life
During the first trailer forTRON: Ares, star Greta Lee is pictured looking up at theTRONinvasion in terror. This shot, combined with Lee’s expression, evokes feelings similar to those of a character staring at an oncoming storm or tidal wave in a disaster movie. Although the storyline ofthe thirdTRONfilm is more akin to that of an alien invasion, I’m entirely in favor of the disaster movie vibes the sequel is conjuring.
As a viewer, I already know what to expect from these movies in the digital realm, so the decision to bring them to life on Earth might be a stroke of genius, even if the video game comes to life premise is played out.
The conceit ofTRON: Aries, which flips the concept of the first two filmsby bringing the digitalTRONelements into thereal world, is inherently terrifying. As a viewer,I already know what to expect from these movies in the digital realm, so the decision to bring them to life on Earth might be a stroke of genius, even if the video game coming to life premise is played out. Watching the digitalTRONelements interact with Earthly environments creates a large sandbox for potential spectacle.
TRON Has Always Looked Weird, And I Love That Means It Can Be Scary
The TRON Visual Styles Lends Itself To Horror Better Than You Might Think
I don’t think there are other franchises with such a distinct visual landscape likeTRON. Whether it’s the original film with boundary-pushing graphics in 1982 or its sequel,TRON: Legacyfrom 2010, which shaped the decades' run of blockbusters, thanks to its vibrant, neon colors dazzling audiences worldwide,TRONis a franchise cemented by its visual makeup.TRON: Arescontinues in this grand tradition, swapping out many of the blue tones from its predecessors for a more aggressive shade of red.
The new red aesthetic, plus the excitingTRON: Aresscore composed by Nine Inch Nails, could establish a fresh and frightening new take on theTRONmaterial.I’m excited to see humanity’s first encounter with the A.I. programs, and ifTRON: Aresdelivers on the sci-fi action, set pieces, and scares, Disney might have added another beloved entry to the franchise.
