San Diego Comic-Con 2025: ‘TRON: Ares'

Director Joachim Rønning brought Jared Leto & Jeff Bridges to the convention to drum up excitement for the latest instalment in the ‘Tron’ franchise.

(L to R) Jared Leto and Jeff Bridges at the 2025 San Diego Comic-Con Hall H Panel for 'TRON: Ares'. Photo: Disney.

Preview:

‘TRON: Ares’ showed off some new footage at Comic-Con.
Director Joachim Rønning was present at the panel.
The movie will land on October 10th.

With much of Disney's other big franchises –– Marvel especially –– skipping the San Diego Comic-Con this year, it's up to 'TRON: Ares', the latest entry to feature A.I. Programs and humans mixing, to fly the genre flag.

TRON: Ares

"No going back."

Not Yet RatedOct 10th, 2025

Showtimes & Tickets

A highly sophisticated Program called Ares is sent from the digital world into the real world on a dangerous mission, marking humankind's first encounter with A.I.... Read the Plot

'TRON: Ares', directed by Joachim Rønning, features the likes of Jared Leto, Gillian Anderson, Greta Lee, Evan Peters, Jodie Turner Smith and (because it's surely not 'Tron' without him) Jeff Bridges.

What’s the story of ‘TRON: Ares’?

Jared Leto as Ares in Disney's Live Action 'Tron: Ares'. Photo by Leah Gallo. © 2025 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

A highly sophisticated Program called Ares (Leto) is sent from the digital world into the real world on a dangerous mission, marking humankind's first encounter with A.I. beings.

What happened at the ‘TRON: Ares’ panel?

(L to R) The cast and crew of 'TRON: Ares' at the 2025 San Diego Comic-Con Hall H Panel. Photo: Disney.

The 'Ares' panel began with a digital light display and bots floating around the screens of Hall H, with suited Programs on stage.

Before any of the filmmakers or cast arrived, a new trailer played for the crowd.

Director Rønning brought Leto, Peters, Anderson, Turner-Smith and Bridges on stage to discuss the movie.

Leto admitted he was already in the tank for 'Tron' before taking the role:

"At the end of the day, I am an official 'Tron' super fan. If I wasn't on the stage, I would be in the audience, for sure, watching this panel right now, cheering like all these crazy people out here."

He also called Jeff Bridges a hero, a sentiment surely everyone in the crowd would share.

Rønning was also enthused to work on the movie:

"Well, it's 'Tron'. So, I was immediately drawn into it. I love the franchise, the movies, I think, in many ways, are masterpieces. And, you know, I always dreamt about making science fiction. I think the topic is super interesting, and they had a twist to it."
(L to R) Jeff Bridges, Greta Lee and Jodie Turner-Smith at the 2025 San Diego Comic-Con Hall H Panel for 'TRON: Ares'. Photo: Disney.

A couple of new clips were shown, including Leto's Ares in a light chase with Turner-Smith's Athena, and one set in the digital world of the Grid, which has been expanded by Peters' Julian Dillinger (a name that should set alarm bells ringing in 'Tron' fans' minds).

The panel ended with the debut of Nine Inch Nails' new tie-in single, "As Alive as You Need Me to Be" (Trent Reznor and his group supply the music for the movie).

This is what Leto had to say about the soundtrack:

"The music for 'Tron' has always been such an important part. When we were talking about music for this film, there was really only very few people you could think about that could fill those shoes and Nine Inch Nails absolutely did it. I mean, they made music that's going to live a lifetime."