Tron: Legacy’s Garrett Hedlund Breaks Silence On Ares Absence Following Director’s Claim About Missing Actors

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With less than two weeks until Tron: Ares arrives in theaters in 2025, the franchise is returning to the big screen after Tron: Legacy was released in 2010. While Jeff Bridges is back as Kevin Flynn (or someone who looks like him), none of the other actors from Legacy are involved in this new film. Garrett Hedlund, who played Sam Flynn, has now spoken out about why he isn’t returning, following statements made by the Ares director explaining why some actors didn’t reprise their roles.

Earlier this month, director Joachim Rønning told Collider that the absence of some characters from Tron: Legacy in Tron: Ares isn’t just about creative decisions; sometimes actors simply don’t want to reprise their roles. Rønning didn’t specifically mention Hedlund by name, but given that Sam was the main character in Legacy, it’s likely he’s referring to him. In a different interview with Collider at FanX Salt Lake Comic Convention, Hedlund shared his thoughts when asked about the situation:

I’m really excited to see how this turned out, especially what they’ve done with Ares. I’m incredibly proud of everyone who worked on it. The producers are the same team that made Legacy, and they really put in a lot of effort on this project. I’ll be first in line to watch the movie, and the fans seem just as enthusiastic, which is fantastic. There’s a lot of affection for Tron from people all over.

A comment like that suggests Garrett Hedlund isn’t holding any grudges against the team behind the Tron series. It would have been good if he’d verified the accuracy of what Joachim Rønning said earlier, and perhaps he’ll share his perspective once Tron: Ares comes out. As of now, taking Hedlund’s statement as it is, he seems as enthusiastic about seeing this new Disney film as many other fans are.

More about Tron: Ares

I was disappointed that Tron: Ares wasn’t a direct continuation of Tron: Legacy. However, the producer’s recent statements make me optimistic that a proper sequel could still be possible.

Following a preview of Tron: Ares at San Diego Comic-Con, I’m now feeling much better about a key aspect of the film. I was previously concerned, but the footage eased those worries. It seems the creators are on the right track, and I’m no longer apprehensive about how this particular element would turn out. This is a positive development for the movie.

It’s true that I’m still a little sad Garrett Hedlund won’t be in Tron: Ares. The ending of Tron: Legacy showed Sam Flynn leaving The Grid with Quorra, who was the last of the ISO programs. Sam planned to regain control of ENCOM and make a difference with Olivia Wilde’s character. Leaving that storyline unresolved is disappointing, especially since Wilde won’t be back for Ares either. And Cillian Murphy isn’t returning as Edward Dillinger, the character he played in Legacy – a role connected to David Warner’s Edward Dillinger from the original Tron movie.

Rather than a direct continuation of previous films, Tron: Ares tells a new story centered around Ares, a highly advanced program portrayed by Jared Leto, who is brought into the real world to complete a specific task. According to the official plot summary for Ares, this represents the first time humans have encountered artificial intelligence entities, suggesting Quorra remained out of sight. The Dillinger family legacy continues with Evan Peters as Julian, the grandson of Edward Sr., and Gillian Anderson as Elisabeth, Julian’s mother and Edward Sr.’s daughter. The cast also features Greta Lee, Jodie Turner-Smith, Hasan Minhaj, Arturo Castro, Cameron Monaghan and Sarah Desjardins.

As a big fan of the franchise, I’m really excited that Tron: Ares is hitting theaters on October 10! If you want to get ready, you can revisit the original two Tron films and the animated series Tron: Uprising – they’re both available to stream with your Disney+ subscription. And if you’re looking for more from Garrett Hedlund, he’s currently starring in Tulsa King, a series you can find exclusively on Paramount+ – the third season actually premiered on September 21!

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2025-09-30 18:14