‘Tron: Ares’ – Jared Leto’s Character Wants to Be Real Like Pinocchio, Says Director

After 15 years, the world of Tron is finally returning to the big screen. The new movie, Tron: Ares, will take the story in a bold new direction.

This time, the action won’t stay in the digital world. Instead, the digital world comes into our real one. And at the center of it all is Jared Leto as Ares — a powerful program who escapes the Grid and enters reality.

Director Joachim Rønning has shared some interesting details about Leto’s character. “Not to be too clichéd, but I always thought about him a bit like Pinocchio,” Rønning told Empire. “Ares wants to be a real boy.” Just like Pinocchio wanted to become human, Ares is a program who wants to be real.

This idea adds a deeper meaning to the movie. Ares isn’t just a villain — he’s someone discovering the world for the first time. “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,” Rønning explained. “The little things that we take for granted, or don’t see anymore. That was important.”

The movie will explore what it really means to be human. Rønning said this was a big theme in the film: “What it takes — what it means — to be human. Especially in this case, because he’s a computer program.” Ares sees the real world in a new and different way. This could lead to both wonder and danger.

Ares also gets a brand-new design twist — a triangular Identity Disc. This is a big change from the classic circular disc fans know from previous Tron films. Rønning confirmed it’s not just for show. “It’s definitely a weapon,” he said. “And it’s just a superior disc.”

Still, longtime Tron fans don’t need to worry too much. “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!’” he joked. “But we have round discs as well. Take it easy.”

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