Early concept art for the highly anticipated sequel, "Tron: Ares," revealed that actor Cillian Murphy was initially envisioned to return as a new iteration of Sark. Film concept artist Phil Saunders shared compelling artwork on ArtStation, illustrating Murphy in the role at the request of production designer Darren Gilford. This early push aimed to convince Murphy to reprise his "Tron: Legacy" character, Edward Dillinger Jr. However, despite the striking design, Murphy ultimately did not return for the film.

Instead of Cillian Murphy, the movie introduces Julian Dillinger, portrayed by Evan Peters. Julian, who now serves as the CEO of Dillinger Systems, discovers that Eve Kim (played by Greta Lee) has obtained Kevin Flynn’s crucial permanence code. In response, he deploys two powerful combat programs, Ares (Jared Leto) and Athena (Jodie Turner-Smith), with the mission to retrieve the code.

Critics have weighed in on "Tron: Ares," with Collider's review suggesting that while the film doesn't quite elevate Tron into a must-see franchise, it successfully simplifies the formula. The movie leans heavily on its slick visuals, a compelling soundtrack, and just enough story to maintain momentum. Ross Bonaime of Collider noted that the streamlined premise is a significant improvement, avoiding the pitfalls of convoluted lore that sometimes plagued previous installments. "Tron: Ares" may not transform Tron into the major franchise Disney has long desired, but it indicates a clearer understanding of what these movies need to be: visually exciting, with an excellent soundtrack, and a narrative that offers "dumb fun." The film achieves this, while also finding engaging ways to connect with previous installments, fostering a genuine desire for more content within this universe, rather than feeling forced. "Tron: Ares" is described not as a "killer app," but rather a "solid upgrade."

"Tron: Ares" is currently streaming on Disney+. The film is rated PG-13 and falls under the Science Fiction, Adventure, and Action genres. It has a runtime of 119 minutes and was released on October 8, 2025. The director is Joachim Rønning, with writing credits attributed to Jesse Wigutow, Steven Lisberger, Bonnie MacBird, Joachim Rønning, and David DiGilio. The team of producers includes Jared Leto, Jeffrey Silver, Sean Bailey, Steven Lisberger, Emma Ludbrook, and Justin Springer. Key cast members include Jared Leto as Ares and Greta Lee as Eve Kim. The film is part of the broader Tron franchise, with "TRON" and "TRON: Legacy" serving as prequels.