After a 15-year gap between installments, Tron: Ares has arrived — and its explosive ending points clearly toward the future of the franchise. The film brings back major legacy characters and introduces a new threat that could shape a possible Tron 4, something both the cast and director have discussed in detail with Collider, which first reported the story.
In the film’s closing stretch, a Recognizer attacks a human city, signaling that the divide between the digital and physical worlds is beginning to collapse. Fans also witness the long-awaited return of Jeff Bridges as Kevin Flynn and learn that Ares (Jared Leto) is searching for Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund) and Quorra (Olivia Wilde), who disappeared after Tron: Legacy. But it’s the mid-credits scene that most directly sets up the next chapter.
That sequence reveals Evan Peters’ Julian Dillinger—now imprisoned—discovering an old identity disk that transforms him into a new incarnation of Sark, the infamous villain from the 1982 original. Sark was portrayed by David Warner, who also voiced the Master Control Program and played Dillinger’s grandfather, Edward Dillinger. The moment ties the trilogy together and hints that the original Grid may not be as dormant as fans once thought.
Peters described the experience as both surreal and thrilling, noting that he didn’t get to don the full Sark costume but appreciated the chance to pay homage to the character’s signature movements. When asked whether he’d return for another film, he quipped, “We’ll see in 20 years if that pans out,” acknowledging the long production gaps that have defined the series.
Gillian Anderson, who plays Julian’s domineering mother Elisabeth Dillinger, also hinted about possibly returning in a digital form after her character’s death in Ares. Peters joked that she’d get “a very chic light suit and an awesome helmet” if that ever happened.
Director Joachim Rønning (Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil) said that Tron 4 isn’t guaranteed but could happen if Ares performs well. “If we are lucky enough to be able to continue this story, if enough people go and watch this next installment, we can answer those questions,” he said. Rønning added that reviving Sark was “an amazing moment” for him as a fan and filmmaker, calling it a way to honor the original 1982 film.
As Rønning pointed out, the Tron franchise has always balanced a devoted fanbase with uneven box-office results. Both Tron and Tron: Legacy achieved cult status but fell short of blockbuster success, with Legacy earning just over $400 million globally on a hefty production and marketing budget. Whether Tron 4 happens may depend entirely on how audiences respond to Ares.
