It’s been ten years since we’ve been inside the grid. The grid, of course, is the fantastical digital world created by Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges) in the classic ‘80s science-fiction movie, TRON. The original and groundbreaking film has endured and still entertains. The sequel, 2010’s TRON: Legacy, time is less kind to, given its many shortcomings. Nonetheless, fans want to return to the world of the grid, and they just soon might.
TRON 3
A TRON 3 has been talked about for years. TRON: Legacy wasn’t a smash hit, but it made enough money to generate some interest and discussion around a third entry. For years, it’s been rumored one of Hollywood’s most commonly disliked and ridiculed but talented actors, Jared Leto, was going to star in another sequel. Now, it’s confirmed the Oscar-winner will jump into the grid with a surprising director, Garth Evans.
The Latest Update
Evans is the director of the acclaimed drama, Lion, which came out years ago. He’s known for personal drama, not big spectacle a la Disney. Apparently, he won the studio over with his persistence and vision for the sequel. Joseph Kosinski, who directed TRON: Legacy and the upcoming Top Gun sequel, wanted to return to the franchise for years. There was, however, a holdup at Disney and just a general lack of excitement. With Lucasfilm, Marvel, Pixar, and their live-action remakes, the studio was only interested in major sure things, not a Tron sequel. For whatever reason, Disney has had a change of heart. Maybe it’s the new script and new vision from Evans.
Not 100% Happening
Anything can happen, especially now, regarding a TRON 3. The sequel isn’t greenlit, but Evans and Leto’s involvement is viewed as major progress for the stalled sequel. Deadline wrote that “insiders still stress a green light has not been given and that it’s still in development, but Davis’ involvement is a push in the right direction.” There’s no word if Jeff Bridges or the new stars of the franchise, Olivia Wilde and Garrett Hedlund, will return.
TRON without Jeff Bridges playing god doesn’t sound as much fun, although Hedlund wouldn’t be much of a loss to the franchise. No offense to the actor, but the role of Kevin Flynn’s son was a boring, conventional hero with stiff quips and stiffer emotional beats. Wilde, on the other hand, played a charismatic citizen of the grid. If her and Bridges return to star along with Daft Punk to score, we’d like to see that movie.
Jared Leto in TRON…
Jared Leto is an unconventional choice for the world of TRON and, let’s say, a major Disney movie. He’s just not a typical movie star and doesn’t possess the typical movie star charisma. Can he carry a movie like TRON: Legacy? He’s popular but very polarizing among movie fans, mostly due to his showier acting choices and public persona. Leto makes major transformations, and yet doesn’t disappear so much in his work. You almost always know you’re watching Jared Leto, not the character Jared Leto is playing. There are exceptions, like Mr. Nobody and other strong performances, but nowadays, Leto’s image in pop culture is too big and silly to buy him in an array of roles.
We were going to see the actor star in his first major comic book movie this summer; Suicide Squad does not count. Sony’s Morbius was scheduled for this summer, but it was pushed back to next year due to COVID-19. Leto typically stays away from big popcorn movies. Whether he has the charisma or not to carry them himself, we’ll see in Morbius and, apparently, TRON 3.
