How ‘Tron: Ares’ and its end credits scene link the franchise’s past to its future

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This story contains spoilers for “Tron: Ares.”

Get ready to enter the Grid: “Tron: Ares” has finally hit theaters.

Joachim Rønning directed “Tron: Ares,” the newest film in the “Tron” series which began in 1982. Like many big-budget franchises today, the movie ends in a way that allows for potential sequels.

“Tron: Ares” delivers its biggest reveals both at the end of the main story and in a short scene shown after the credits begin.

Review

‘Tron: Ares’ has glowing style, but its storytelling doesn’t compute

This sequel could have been a stylish, atmospheric experience with its Nine Inch Nails soundtrack, but it’s bogged down by unoriginal ideas about artificial intelligence and a confusing story, making it a frustrating watch.

The new film continues the story of “Tron: Legacy” (2010), and features Jared Leto as Ares, a highly advanced artificial intelligence. Ares was created by Julian Dillinger (Evan Peters), a programmer who is quickly becoming a successful tech CEO. Greta Lee plays Eve Kim, a programmer and the current CEO of the company formerly run by the original “Tron” star, Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges).

You don’t need to have seen the previous “Tron” movies to enjoy “Tron: Ares,” but fans of “Tron” and “Legacy” will definitely pick up on some important hints about what might happen next. (Be warned: spoilers ahead!)

The mid-credits scene is a callback to ‘Tron’

So, “Tron: Ares” wraps up with a pretty interesting twist – Julian, who happens to be the grandson of that old villain from the original “Tron”, Edward Dillinger, manages to jack into the Grid run by Dillinger Corp. It definitely leaves you wondering what he’s going to do in there, and I’m already thinking about the possibilities for a sequel!

After the credits, Julian surveys the ruins of his digital world. He then finds and turns on his identity disc. As he holds the glowing disc, his digital suit begins to materialize, taking on a recognizable shape.

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Fans of the movie “Tron” might notice that Julian’s outfit is very similar to the one worn by Sark, the villain from the film. Sark was a program created by Ed Dillinger and led his army in the original “Tron.” Both Sark and Ed were played by the same actor, David Warner.

This scene firmly establishes Julian as the one who will carry on his grandfather’s work, and it hints that he might reappear as a villain in a future “Tron” movie.

‘Tron: Ares’ ends by teasing a future link-up with ‘Tron: Legacy’

The latest “Tron” film suggests Ares’ story might continue. The movie closes with Ares viewing pictures of Quorra, a character from the previous film “Tron: Legacy” played by Olivia Wilde.

Like Ares, Quorra began as a digital creation within the Grid before entering the real world. However, Quorra isn’t an artificial program; she’s a unique, self-generated being called an “isomorphic algorithm.” In “Legacy,” she’s presented as someone Flynn is teaching about humans.

As I’ve been pondering the future of the “Tron” universe, a fascinating question keeps popping up: could we see a crossover between Ares and Quorra? Honestly, it’s anyone’s guess right now. A lot will probably hinge on how well the upcoming “Tron: Ares” performs at the box office. If it’s a hit, I think Disney will be much more open to exploring those kinds of possibilities.

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2025-10-10 03:31