Is Tron: Ares a 'Bridge' Film?
A growing theory within the Tron fanbase suggests that Ares isn’t a direct sequel to Tron: Legacy, but rather a bridge film, a story that connects Legacy to a true Tron 4. Instead of continuing Sam and Quorra’s journey, Ares could introduce an entirely new digital battleground: one controlled by the Dillinger family.
This theory gains even more traction when looking at the film’s protagonist, Julian Dillinger, a character with direct ties to the Tron universe’s long-standing antagonist family. If Julian is at the center of this film, then it stands to reason that the digital world we see in Ares is not the same Grid that Kevin Flynn created, but a separate Grid with its own history, rules, and governing forces.
The Case for Tron: Ares as a Bridge Film
1. The Mystery of Ares and the Absence of Sam & Quorra
It has been confirmed that Sam Flynn and Quorra will not appear in Tron: Ares. Given how Legacy ended, with Sam and Quorra escaping the Grid into the real world, this is a puzzling decision. Why would Disney leave out the major characters of the last film without explanation?
The most logical answer is that Ares takes place in a different Grid, one tied to the Dillinger family rather than Kevin Flynn’s digital world. This would allow the story to remain within the Tron universe while exploring a new perspective, one that doesn’t require Sam or Quorra’s involvement but could still acknowledge them in some way.
If Ares is setting up a larger conflict between different digital worlds, then Sam and Quorra’s return might be reserved for Tron 4, when the storylines of both Grids inevitably collide.
2. Aesthetic Differences Hint at a Different Grid
One of the strongest pieces of evidence for Ares being set in a separate Grid comes from its visual style.
In Tron: Legacy, Kevin Flynn’s Grid had a sleek, minimalist aesthetic. The programs had smooth, skin-tight suits with elegant lighting patterns, and their Identity Disks were always circular. This reflected the refined, controlled nature of Flynn’s digital world.
However, in Tron: Ares, there are clear differences. Ares himself has an entirely different look, his armor is more rigid and jagged, almost like a battle suit. Most notably, his Identity Disk isn’t round; it’s triangular. This marks a major departure from the design language of Flynn’s Grid, suggesting that this world operates under different principles.
If you zoom in on the stillframe of Jared Leto’s Ares that was released, you can see something even more telling. At the top of his triangular Identity Disk, there’s a clear engraving that says "Dillinger Systems." This marks a significant clue. Dillinger Systems was a company historically linked to the creation of the first Grid in the Tron universe, specifically by the antagonist Ed Dillinger, who was a key rival of Kevin Flynn. The presence of Dillinger Systems' name could indicate that Ares’s Grid has ties to a system designed by the Dillinger family, suggesting a shift in power and philosophy.
This is a crucial detail. If Ares were simply a direct sequel to Legacy, then why would such fundamental elements be different? The best explanation is that Ares is showing us a completely new Grid, one that has evolved separately from Flynn’s. The visual shift in design, along with the inclusion of Dillinger Systems, implies that this new Grid operates under a set of rules distinctly different from Flynn’s.
If the programs in this new Grid are designed differently, it implies that the system itself follows a unique set of rules. Perhaps this Grid is more militarized, built for combat rather than creativity. If so, it could be a direct reflection of its creator, possibly someone from the Dillinger family, who have historically been at odds with Kevin Flynn. This connection further hints at the new world order within the Tron universe and the possibility of an ongoing rivalry between the two families.
3. Julian Dillinger and the Rise of a New Digital World
Julian Dillinger’s inclusion as a main character is one of the biggest clues that Tron: Ares will focus on a different Grid.
In Tron: Legacy, Edward Dillinger Jr. (played by Cillian Murphy) was shown working at ENCOM, subtly teasing that the Dillinger family still had influence within the tech world. While his role was minor, his presence hinted at bigger plans for the Tron universe, plans that Ares may finally explore.
If Julian Dillinger is leading this film, it raises an interesting possibility: What if the Dillinger family has been developing its own digital frontier, separate from Kevin Flynn’s?
This theory suggests that Ares will introduce a second Grid, one built under the control of the Dillinger family. Unlike Flynn’s Grid, which was an experiment in digital evolution, Dillinger’s Grid may have been designed with an entirely different purpose, perhaps for corporate control, military applications, or something even more sinister.
If this is the case, Tron: Ares could be setting the stage for an eventual clash between the two digital realms. The events of Ares may lead to an invasion, a war, or an unavoidable intersection of Flynn’s digital legacy and Dillinger’s ambitions. And if that’s where the story is headed, then Tron 4 could be the film where both Grids finally collide.
4. Garrett Hedlund’s Hints About Sam and Quorra’s Return
Adding fuel to this theory are recent comments from Garrett Hedlund, who portrayed Sam Flynn in Tron: Legacy. In an interview with Collider, Hedlund expressed enthusiasm for Tron: Ares and teased the possibility of his and Olivia Wilde’s (Quorra) return:
This statement suggests that while Sam and Quorra might not appear in Ares, their story isn't over. Hedlund's use of "maybe it's not the last anyone will see" implies future plans for these characters, potentially in a subsequent film where the narratives of both Grids intersect.
Why This Approach Makes Sense
1. Avoiding a Repeat of Disney’s Legacy Sequel Mistakes
Disney has struggled with legacy sequels in the past, often making controversial choices that alienate longtime fans (e.g., Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny). If Tron: Ares were a direct sequel to Tron: Legacy and simply killed off Sam and Quorra off-screen, it would likely spark immediate backlash from the Tron fanbase.
However, if Ares is meant to be a bridge film, then Sam and Quorra’s absence makes sense, they aren’t needed for this chapter of the story. Instead, their return could be saved for Tron 4, where they would have a much more impactful role, creating a more satisfying payoff when the storylines of multiple digital worlds eventually collide.
2. Expanding the Tron Universe Without Retconning the Past
Rather than disregarding Tron: Legacy, Ares may be expanding the Tron universe in a way that allows multiple digital worlds to exist simultaneously. If the franchise wants to grow, it can’t stay confined to just one Grid, it needs to explore how different digital systems operate. By introducing a Dillinger-controlled Grid, Ares can tell a fresh story without erasing what came before. At the same time, it plants the seeds for a larger narrative, one that could see these separate Grids come into conflict.
What Happens When These Grids Collide?
If Tron: Ares is indeed a bridge film, then the natural question is: what happens next?
Does Julian Dillinger’s Grid pose a threat to the real world?
Could Sam and Quorra be forced to return if the Dillinger Grid becomes too powerful?
If Kevin Flynn is still alive in some digital form (his fate in Legacy was left ambiguous), could he play a role in the inevitable battle between Grids?
The answers to these questions could define the future of the Tron franchise. If Ares successfully establishes the existence of multiple digital realms, then Tron 4 has the potential to be the biggest film in the series, bringing together both the legacy characters and the new ones introduced in Ares.
For now, all we can do is speculate. But if Tron: Ares is truly a bridge film, then it may be laying the groundwork for the most ambitious Tron story yet.
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