Disney has opted to discontinue plans for additional entries in the “Tron” franchise, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
The decision follows the underperformance of the trilogy’s third installment, “Ares,” which stars Jared Leto as an artificial intelligence. The film opened worldwide last weekend and grossed a modest $60 million, against an estimated production budget of $180–200 million. Industry estimates indicate “Ares” would need to earn roughly double that figure (around $360 million) to break even.
“Ares” also features performances from Jeff Bridges, Evan Peters, Greta Lee, Gillian Anderson and others. Joachim Rønning (director of “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales”) directed the project. Critical response was lukewarm, with a 53% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
The original “Tron” premiered in 1982 and similarly struggled at the box office. Its 2010 sequel, Joseph Kosinski’s “Tron: Legacy,” performed far better, bringing in about $400 million worldwide on a roughly $170 million budget.
