Tron: Ares Flopping Isn’t Jared Leto’s Fault, Insiders Claim

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After a weak opening weekend in theaters, industry experts are analyzing why the latest *Tron* movie didn’t perform as expected. The film earned only $36.8 million domestically during its first weekend, despite costing approximately $180 million to produce.

The recently released film starring Jared Leto isn’t performing as well as expected worldwide. Reports suggest this new installment, *Ares*, might be the last in the *Tron* movie series, though the film’s struggles aren’t solely due to Leto. The actor, who has faced controversy and accusations of misconduct from nine women – accusations his representatives have denied – played the lead role in *Ares*.

Following the $400 million worldwide success of the 2010 film *Tron: Legacy* (made with a $170 million budget), Jared Leto was the main promotional face for *Ares*. However, according to The Hollywood Reporter, studios are now hesitant to cast Leto in leading roles, a trend that began soon after *Ares*’ release.

With actors like Michael Fassbender, Ewan McGregor, and Benedict Cumberbatch struggling to find leading roles, it seems risky to cast Jared Leto, who hasn’t consistently proven he can draw audiences to theaters, according to a leading talent manager. Another industry source noted that Leto’s recent film, *Ares*, performed poorly, signaling a decline in his status as a box office lead, though they also acknowledged the film’s failure wasn’t entirely his responsibility, especially considering the underperformance of *Tron*.

Honestly, when I heard about the new *Tron* movie, I was excited, but then I found out they didn’t even consider Ryan Gosling! Someone at the studio apparently said they knew it wouldn’t work with the current cast. They were pretty blunt – they basically said if you think this reboot is good just because of the story, you’re kidding yourself. It really feels like they needed a bigger star to pull it off.

Ares Director Hints at Tron 4

Despite many in the film industry believing the *Tron* series is over, there’s still a possibility for a sequel. Director Joachim Rønning previously hinted at ideas for a fourth *Tron* movie, and he’s stated that a scene after the credits of the film *Ares* was designed to lead into a future installment.

Rønning explained that recreating the original Tron Grid for the scene where Sark returns was a huge moment for the team at Industrial Light & Magic. They considered it a pinnacle of visual effects, even though the original 1982 effects weren’t recognized by the Academy Awards because they were considered unconventional at the time.

The director also mentioned bringing back the character of Sark, even though it’s a brief moment at the end of the film, suggesting potential future storylines. He feels Julian Dillinger’s portrayal of the character is a strong foundation for continuing that arc. He also expressed gratitude to everyone who supported the film by buying a ticket, noting the current uncertainty of the film industry and how appreciative he is of audience turnout.

Tron: Ares is currently playing in theaters.

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2025-10-15 18:36