Jared Leto’s Antagonist ‘Wants To Be A Real Boy’

Who’s ready to go off-Grid? For the first time in 15 years, Tron fans are about to return to the world they love, one that began all the way back in 1982, and belatedly continued in 2010’s Tron: Legacy. Now, the saga finds up-to-date life in Tron: Ares – an evolution of the story that, rather than plunging audiences into a digital landscape, is busting the 1s and 0s into our world. Chief among them, Jared Leto’s Ares – the titular character who busts out of the Grid and into reality, with nefarious intent.

“Not to be too clichéd, but I always thought about him a bit like Pinocchio,” director Joachim Rønning tells Empire of Leto’s character. “Ares wants to be a real boy.” As a piece of coding-turned-flesh, he has a unique perspective on the world. “We talked a lot about him almost being an infant, discovering the world for the first time, and how we wanted the audience to see the world through his eyes,” says Rønning. “The little things that we take for granted, or don’t see anymore. That was important. And then a bigger theme for the film is what it takes — what it means — to be human. Especially in this case, because he’s a computer program.”

The nature of Ares – and his presence in reality – isn’t the only evolution in Tron: Ares. He even gets his own triangular Identity Disc, in an upgrade from the typical circular accessories. “It’s definitely a weapon,” Rønning teases. “And it’s just a superior disc.” Don’t worry, though, Tron purists – standard circular discs will be present too. “When you’re a part of a franchise, you want to evolve the design, although I’m sure people are gonna freak out that it’s not round: ‘Oh no!’ But we have round discs as well,” he says. “Take it easy.” Watch out: Ares is coming.

Read Empire’s full Tron: Ares story in the Jaws At 50 issue, on sale Thursday 10 April. Pre-order a copy online here. Tron: Ares comes to UK cinemas on 10 October.