'Tron: Ares': Disney Moving Forward With Jared Leto's Sci-Fi Sequel & Eying Studio Vet Joachim Rønning To Direct

After about five years of speculation, Jared Leto‘s “Tron” sequel, “Tron: Ares,” may finally be underway. Deadline reports that Disney eyes an August start date for the film’s production in Vancouver. Disney is also in talks with a studio vet to helm the feature: Norwegian director Joachim Rønning.

READ MORE: Jared Leto Still Optimistic About Disney’s ‘Tron 3’ Coming Together: “We’re Working Hard”

It’d be Rønning’s fourth film for Disney, after “Maleficent: Mistress Of Evil,” “Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales,” and his upcoming “Young Woman And The Sea.” That film stars Daisy Ridley as Gertrude Edele, a New York teenager who became the first woman to swim across the English channel. “Dead Man Tell No Tales” scribe Jeff Nathanson pens that film’s script, with Jerry Bruckheimer producing.

But back to “Tron: Ares.” Disney has spent years figuring out a way to continue the franchise after 2010’s “Tron: Legacy” grossed $400 million worldwide. Leto get involved with Disney on another “Tron” film in 2017, but it’s been slow going development-wise for the project. If Rønning signs on, then he’ll direct a script from Jesse Wigutow, whose recent claim to fame is an early draft of the upcoming “The Crow” remake.  

Sean Bailey and Sam Dickerman are the executive producers on “Tron: Ares,” with Justin Springer, Leto, Jeffrey Silver, and Leto’s Paradox partner Emma Ludbrook as producers. With “Tron: Ares” moving forward, that makes two upcoming Disney projects for Leto, the other being the forthcoming “Haunted Mansion” film, out this August.

“Tron” and “Tron: Legacy” have their cult followings, but will “Tron: Ares” prove to be more than just a niche favorite? It’s difficult to tell right now, especially with plot details under wraps. But at least expect “Tron: Ares” to be as high-concept as the previous two films in the series and for Leto to go for something wiggy in his leading role. More details on this upcoming film soon.