New images from Disney’sTron: Areshave entered The Grid… the Instagram grid, that is. The snaps caused quite a stir on social media as they turned the spotlight on two of the film’s major villainous characters, who threaten to be even more evil thanJared Leto’s titular antagonistin the highly anticipated third installment of the groundbreakingTronfranchise. Marvel favoriteEvan PetersandThe X-Filesleading ladyGillian Andersonboth feature in the photos, offering a better look at their roles as Julian and Elisabeth Dillinger, respectively.
Fans of theTronsaga will recognize the Dillinger name. Ed Dillinger (David Warner) was the ruthless head of ENCOM in Disney’s 1982 film, while his son, Ed Jr. (Cillian Murphy), made a cameo appearance in the 2010 sequelTron: Legacy. The Dillinger dynasty will live on in the third feature,Tron: Ares, as Peters steps out as Julian, a new addition to the family lineage, who operates under the watchful eye of his mother, Elisabeth. Anderson spoke about the relationship between the two characters in the latest issue of Empire magazine, saying:
“Having a son that behaves in the way that Julian does, and trying to deal with his actions, both emotionally and logistically — it adds a level of stress and strain to their relationship.”
This Award Winning ‘Tron’ TV Series Will Outshine ‘Ares’
While the verdict is still out on ‘Tron: Ares,’ let’s dig into a much more honorable entry in the franchise that many fans may have overlooked.
Peters is known in the Marvel universe for playing Peter Maximoff, aka Quicksilver, inX-Men: Days of Future Past, X-Men: Apocalypse,andDark Phoenix.He also made a brief but memorable cameo as the character inDeadpool 2. He had an additional role as Ralph Bohner/“Pietro Maximoff” inWandaVisionandAgatha All Along. His other credits include the FX anthology seriesAmerican Horror Story,the HBO crime dramaMare of Easttown,anda critically acclaimed turnin the Netflix showDahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story.
Meanwhile, Anderson is best known for playing FBI Special Agent Dana Scully in the hugely successful and influential sci-fi seriesThe X-Files. She earned critical acclaim and numerous awards, including an Emmy, a Golden Globe, and a Screen Actors Guild award for her work on the show. She has since gained further recognition for her roles inThe Crown, Bleak House,andSex Education. Anderson joined the cast ofTron: Aresin January 2024, alongside Leto’s Ares, Greta Lee’s Eve Kim, Jodie Turner-Smith’s Athena, and Jeff Bridges' Kevin Flynn.
What Is ‘Tron: Ares’ About?
Julian and Elisabeth are connected to the Dillinger clan from the earlier films, but exactly what they will be up to and how large of a role they will play is unclear. Jesse Wigutow and Jack Thorne wrote the script forTron: Aresfrom a story they developed with David Digilio, based on characters created by Steven Lisberger and Bonnie MacBird. According to the synopsis, the film “follows a highly sophisticated program, Ares, who is sent from the digital world into the real world on a dangerous mission, marking humankind’s first encounter with A.I. beings.”
Directed by Joachim Rønning and produced by Walt Disney Pictures,Tron: Aresis the latest installment in the beloved sci-fi franchise. The film is slated to hit theaters on Aug 17, 2025, which is significant because this year marks the 15th anniversary ofTron: Legacyhitting theaters. The thirdTronfeature will battle it out at the box office alongsideThe Black Phone 2, Mortal Kombat 2,andBugonia,all releasing in the same month. It also shares its release date withKiss of the Spider Woman,which has alreadygarnered high praise from critics.
