Tron 3’s Jared Leto’s Villain Compared to Disney’s Pinocchio

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In an intriguing comparison, the director of “Tron: Ares”, Joachim Rønning, has likened the character of Jared Leto’s antagonist in the upcoming “Tron 3” to a cherished Disney figure instead of the typical villains found in Disney’s Hall of Infamy. Contrary to expectations, Ares, the rogue AI at the heart of the story, is not similar to classic villains like Jafar, Scar, or Captain Hook. Instead, Rønning told Empire that Ares bears a resemblance to Pinocchio due to his slightly more intricate coding, making him more complex than traditional bad guys.

To avoid being overly predictable, I often saw our character as similar to Pinocchio. Just like Ares yearns to become real, our character is on a journey of self-discovery, exploring the world much like a newborn would. We aimed to let viewers experience the world through his perspective, focusing on the small, overlooked aspects that we tend to forget or no longer notice. This was crucial for conveying the essence of his character. A major theme in the film is the exploration of what it truly means to be human, taking on even more significance given he’s a computer program.

In the initial trailer of “Tron: Ares,” viewers got the clearest glimpse so far at Leto’s character in this thrilling third installment of the popular sci-fi franchise. Additionally, a new image from Empire (shown below) provides a detailed view under the helmet of the character. Although the advanced program could potentially be the sequel’s most formidable adversary, it appears that someone else might be orchestrating events from behind the scenes. As suggested by the film’s official synopsis, Ares is dispatched from the digital realm into our world on a perilous mission, representing humanity’s first interaction with artificial intelligence entities.

Jared Leto’s Ares Uses His Triangular Identity Disc as a Weapon

In contrast to the earlier Tron movies that delved into a digital realm called the Grid, the new film Tron: Ares appears to be exploring the concept of computer programs entering our physical world. It seems these programs will be equipped and prepared to confront whatever obstacles they may encounter. Director Rønning has confirmed that Ares will wield his own triangular Identity Disc as a weapon, distinguishing it from the traditional circular ones associated with the franchise. However, he also emphasized that these standard discs will remain significant in the narrative of the upcoming movie.

When you belong to a franchise, you strive for innovation in the design, even though some might get worried when it deviates from the traditional round shape: “Oh dear!” However, rest assured, we still have round discs available too. Don’t worry!

In the lineup for the movie Tron: Ares , we have Greta Lee (known from Past Lives), Evan Peters (famous for X-Men: Apocalypse), Cameron Monaghan (starred in Gotham), Hasan Minhaj (from The Daily Show), Jodie Turner-Smith (recognized from Queen & Slim), Arturo Castro (popular from Broad City), Gillian Anderson (well-known for her work in The X-Files), and Sarah Desjardins (a cast member of Yellowjackets). Notably, Jeff Bridges, an Academy Award winner, is coming back to reprise his role as video game designer Kevin Flynn, a character he first played in the 1982 film Tron and later in the 2010 sequel, Tron: Legacy, where he also embodied CLU. It will be intriguing to observe how his return is handled, considering the fate of his character at the end of his previous appearance on screen.

Tron: Ares will open in theaters on October 10, 2025.

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2025-04-08 16:31