Yahoo Movies Jared Leto accidentally reveals the name of the new 'Tron' sequel as director comes aboard
Jared Leto accidentally let slip the name of the new Tron movie last night, in his excitement on announcing he's fully on board the forthcoming sequel.
Though he later deleted the tweet, and republished it without the movie's title, his original message made it clear the movie's name is Tron: Ares.
His announcement said: “I am so very excited and proud to confirm that YES – I will be starring in TRON. We will work as hard as we possibly can to create something that I hope you all will love. We have some very special ideas in store for you all… see you in the grid.
“I’m struck with such gratitude for the opportunity to bring this movie to life, especially as both the original video game and the film affected me so deeply as a young child.
“The fact that I get to be a part of this new chapter is mind-blowing.”
I’m struck with such gratitude for the opportunity to bring this movie to life, especially as both the original video game and the film affected me so deeply as a young child. The fact that I get to be a part of this new chapter is mind-blowing. pic.twitter.com/94MN6tT8Bs
— JARED LETO (@JaredLeto) August 10, 2020
The news comes alongside the announcement of Garth Davis as the movie's director.
Australian-born Davis directed several episodes of Jane Campion's series Top of the Lake, before making the Oscar-nominated drama Lion with Dev Patel.
He followed it with the biblical drama Mary Magdalene, starring Rooney Mara and Joaquin Phoenix in 2018.
Sources tell Deadline that Davis had 'aggressively' pursued the job, and won over Disney executives despite his lack of experience in the field of blockbusters.
The original movie was decidedly not a hit when it was released in 1982, with Disney having to write off its losses from a disappointing $50 million haul at the box office.
In a complex plot somewhat ahead of its time, it found Jeff Bridges as software programmer Kevin Flynn, who is beamed into the virtual world of a mainframe computer in which deadly games are played on light cycles.
Despite its poor financial performance, it became a cult hit, with Bridges and fellow star Bruce Boxleitner returning for the 2010 sequel Tron: Legacy, directed by Joseph Kosinski and also starring Garrett Hedlund, Olivia Wilde and Michael Sheen, with a soundtrack by Daft Punk.
The movie made $400 million at the worldwide box office, better than the first movie, but not quite the stellar return that was hoped for.
A sequel has been in the offing ever since, however, with Disney executive Mitchell Leib confirming pre-production back in June.
