Disney has had multiple hits at the box office this year, and it’s currently celebrating another hit with Zootopia 2. Unfortunately, not the same can be said for the sci-fi series Tron, which returned this year with Tron: Ares.
The ambitious project premiered 15 years after the previous installment, 2010’s Tron: Legacy, and 43 years after the original Tron. The film received positive reviews from the audience and will head to digital on Dec. 2 after an underwhelming theatrical run. To celebrate the release, CBR is happy to introduce one of the bonus features from the Tron: Ares home media release, “Lightcycles on the Loose.”
The short bonus featurette shows Jared Leto’s titular character walking alongside Jodie Turner-Smith’s Athena toward their light cycles.
In the featurette, producer Justin Springer, explains, “Bringing these assets into our world and seeing a light cycle, racing down a mountain road or across a freeway, emitting a light trailer behind it. That’s something we had never seen in Tron before.”
Director Joachim Rønning explained how the shooting happened. “I really wanted to shoot it as much as possible, real for real. These boys are doing 150 miles an hour down the street, so in some cases, that wasn’t possible.” He continues. “You can feel it, especially in the light cycle sequence, and I’m really proud of that.”
Leto noted filming the light cycle moments felt “powerful” and “really exciting.”
The featurette is described as, “Join director Joachim Rønning as he peels back the layers of one of the most action-packed sequences in the film. Discover what ILM and the artists who grew up loving the franchise contributed, and what other iconic film the sequence pays homage to.”
The “Lightcycles on the Loose” featurette isn’t the only one from the upcoming home media release. The sci-fi film will be available on Blu-ray, 4k Ultra HD, and DVD on Jan. 6, and it will include the clip above, as well as four other featurettes: “The Journey to Tron: Ares,” “The Artistry of Tron: Ares,” “Cast Conversations,” and “The Legacy of Tron.”
The Tron: Ares physical release will also include three deleted scenes titled “Seth’s Date,” “Burning Man,” and “Lisberger Cameo.”
Tron: Ares Had an Underwhelming Theatrical Run
Jared Leto stares out in Tron Ares.Leah Gallo /© Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures / Courtesy Everett Collection
Since its debut in 1982, Tron has been a widely misunderstood franchise. From the early controversy about CGI, the complaints about the storyline, and formulaic plot, the first two films still managed to make a profit. The 1982 film grossed $50 million against a $17 million budget, and the 2010 entry grossed $409.9 million worldwide against a $170 million budget.
However, the latest entry didn’t have the same success. Tron: Ares received negative reviews from the critics, with an underwhelming 53% “rotten” score. However, audiences gave it an 85% approval. This didn’t translate into ticket sales, as the sci-fi reboot only grossed $142 million against a massive $180 million budget, losing Disney over $100 million .
Tron: Ares’ digital release might turn things around for the sci-fi reboot. Considering the exciting rating from the audience, which is the highest in the franchise, it’s almost a certainty that Tron: Ares will find redemption on streaming.
Aside from Leto, Tron: Ares also starred Greta Lee, Evan Peters, Jodie Turner-Smith, Gillian Anderson, Arturo Castro, Cameron Monaghan, and Jeff Bridges, who reprised his role as Kevin Flynn.
Tron: Ares hits digital video-on-demand platforms on Dec. 2. The sci-fi film will release on Blu-ray, 4K Ultra HD, and DVD on Jan. 6.
Release Date
October 8, 2025
Runtime
119 minutes
Director
Joachim Rønning
