Jeff Bridges’ TRON 3 Return Makes A Controversial Franchise Casting Decision Even Worse

Set to be released in October 2025, Tron: Ares has confirmed several key cast members, including Jeff Bridges, the lead of 1982’s Tron. While Disney has been tight-lipped about the plot of the sci-fi sequel, the studio made the 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.

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 joining 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 members 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 pass the torch. With Sam and Quorra’s stories somewhat unfinished, their return in Tron: Ares would be more suitable.

Tron: Ares

Tron: Ares is the third film in the Tron franchise created by Steven Lisberger in the early ’80s. The movie is a direct sequel to 2010’s Tron: Legacy and stars Jared Leto in the lead role of Ares. Jesse Wigutow penned the screenplay for Disney, who previously worked on the 2015 TV Movie, The Prince. 

Director

Joachim Rønning

Release Date

December 19, 2025

Writers

Jesse Wigutow