Entering The Grid with the Cast and Director of ‘TRON: Ares’

Fun fact: I’ve actually been obsessed with TRON for a long time. Both the original TRON and TRON: Legacy were films that were ahead of their time, with creator Steven Lisberger and future Top Gun: Maverick director Joseph Kosinski exploring themes such as the dangers of corporate greed and the abuse of technology and power in both films.

It’s been 15 years since the last film, and yet the themes of TRON remain as relevant today as ever. Thus, returning to The Grid for TRON: Ares during a time when unregulated AI remains a potential threat, and corporations are both influencing and being influenced by government policy, could not be more appropriate.

TRON: Ares is a film that makes me happy on multiple levels. As a TRON fan, it’s amazing to say we are getting another chapter. As an Asian American fan of the franchise and actress Greta Lee, I’m incredibly happy the franchise is finally getting a prominent Asian character (who is actually the lead of this installment) played by an amazing actress. As someone who is strongly opposed to the idea that corporate greed is causing companies to make terrible decisions to appease corrupt government officials, it’s reassuring that Disney is continuing a franchise built on the premise of holding corporations accountable for their actions and abuse of power.

Yes, it’s true; that last statement seems incredibly ironic, especially given the timing of when these interviews were conducted (shortly after the Jimmy Kimmel suspension). However, while the suspension thankfully didn’t last, at least the messages and themes explored in this franchise will continue to persist (and have for over 40 years), thanks in part to TRON: Ares. Given that we had the opportunity to speak with Lee, as well as stars Jared Leto, Gillian Anderson, Evan Peters, and director Joachim Rønning, we couldn’t help but ask them about how they felt about the franchise and its exploration of these ideas, dating back to Lisberger’s original film, and how they feel Ares continues the legacy of TRON.

Take a look at what they all had to say here: