Tron: Ares – 9 Key Characters Absent from the Sequel

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Be warned, this contains spoilers for Tron: Ares. The new film, Tron: Ares, continues the story from the original Tron movies, but it largely features a fresh set of characters. While building on the established world, it focuses on their experiences with the legacy of Tron and moves the franchise forward. Kevin Flynn does make a brief appearance, but most of the original cast isn’t present.

Though new programmers and developers are carrying on the legacy of characters like Flynn and Dillinger, the latest film prioritizes setting up future storylines for the Tron series. It also hints at the possibility of bringing back certain characters, particularly considering how Tron: Ares ended. Here’s a look at the most significant Tron characters who weren’t featured in Tron: Ares.

Tron

The biggest character noticeably absent from Tron: Ares is Tron himself. First appearing in Tron, he was the main hero, dedicated to assisting the Users. He played a vital role in the battle against MCP and Sark. Though he returned in Tron: Legacy, he was reimagined as the antagonist Rizzler, having been reprogrammed by Clu.

Rizzler ultimately gets his independence back and appears to give his life to protect Flynn, Sam, and Quorra, though it wasn’t entirely clear if he was really gone. The film might have avoided featuring Tron prominently to avoid taking attention away from Ares and his story, which likely explains why he doesn’t show up in Tron: Ares. Despite this, many fans would have enjoyed seeing Tron return.

Alan Bradley

Alan, played by Bruce Boxleitner in both Tron and Tron: Legacy, is a close friend of Flynn. He works with Flynn at ENCOM in the real world of Tron, and his digital self helps battle the MCP. Later, in Tron: Legacy, Alan returns as an executive consultant for the company.

As a big Tron fan, I was a little disappointed that Alan Bradley isn’t in Tron: Ares. The movie doesn’t explain what happened to him or how his role fits with Eve taking over. I get that this new film is really different from the originals, and that’s probably why they didn’t include him, but it still feels strange to have a Tron story without Bruce Boxleitner. He’s such a core part of what made those first films special!

Lora Baines

Lora is a programmer at ENCOM and one of the creators of the digitization laser, a key technology in the story. She’s Alan’s romantic interest (and later his wife) and helps him investigate ENCOM in Tron. Their goal is to demonstrate that Dillinger wrongly took credit for Flynn’s successful video games.

Lora was a key character in the original Tron and would have been a natural fit in Tron: Ares. In fact, the technology she developed is essential for moving things – and people – between the real world and the Grid. Sadly, Cindy Morgan, the actress who played Lora, passed away in 2023, making a return for her character unlikely.

Yori

Like Tron, who represents Alan, and Clu, who’s based on Flynn, Yori is a program created from Lora. She fights for freedom alongside Tron—and is his love interest, mirroring Alan and Lora’s relationship—making her a key hero in Tron. Importantly, Yori is one of the only programs to make it through the final battle alive.

Okay, so Tron: Ares doesn’t take us back to the original Grid we know and love – it explores new, updated versions of that digital world. That means Yori, a fan favorite, doesn’t really have a place in this story. But honestly, I’m holding out hope for a sequel! I think that’s where we could finally get some answers about what happened to her – her fate was never fully explained in Tron: Legacy, and I’d love to see that thread picked up.

Sam Flynn

Sam, the main character in Tron: Legacy, is the son of Kevin Flynn. When he goes looking for his father, he’s pulled into the digital world of the Grid. The movie follows Sam’s attempt to get back to reality, and he eventually escapes with a program named Quorra. However, despite the ending suggesting more adventures, Sam doesn’t appear in the new film, Tron: Ares.

Unlike most of the characters featured here, Tron: Ares directly mentions Sam. After regaining control of ENCOM, he entrusted the company to Eve and her sister, then left with Quorra for an unspecified destination. Considering how Tron: Ares ends, a future sequel will probably need to explain what happened to him and where he is now.

Quorra

Quorra is a fascinating character in Tron: Legacy, and she’s mentioned again in Tron: Ares. As the last of the ISOs – a unique type of program – she finished the first movie by entering the human world with Sam. While she doesn’t actually appear in Tron: Ares, the story suggests she survived even without the code that normally keeps programs stable.

Quorra’s appearance in Tron: Ares creates a mystery about the ‘permanence code’ – the system that usually allows programs to exist. She seemingly survived in the real world without it, which is unusual. The fact that Ares is seen looking at photos of her at the end of the film suggests that Quorra will likely return in a future sequel.

Ed Dillinger Jr.

In the upcoming film Tron: Ares, Julian Dillinger is the primary antagonist. However, his father, Ed Dillinger Jr., who was portrayed by Cillian Murphy in Tron: Legacy, was presented as a foil to Sam Flynn. The film established Ed Dillinger Jr. as a highly skilled programmer with ambitious goals for ENCOM.

A hidden feature in the Tron: Legacy Blu-ray suggested Ed Dillinger Jr. was collaborating with his father or a revived version of the Master Control Program. However, he doesn’t appear at all in Tron: Ares. Now, the Dillinger family runs their own business, competing directly with ENCOM. It appears Ed Jr. is Julian and Elisabeth Dillinger’s uncle.

Michael Murphy’s skill at portraying villains made his appearance in Tron: Legacy intriguing, though it didn’t lead to further development within the Tron series. Now, with the events unfolding for Julian and his mother in Tron: Ares, a potential new Tron movie could cleverly bring Murphy’s character back and explore how he responds to his family’s company falling apart.

Richard Mackey

Richard Mackey was a high-ranking executive at ENCOM in the movie Tron: Legacy. He represented the opposite of Flynn’s innovative spirit, focusing instead on maximizing profits. This made him an obstacle for Sam and Alan. By the time of Tron: Ares, it appears he had lost his position at the company.

It’s understandable that Mackey isn’t in Tron: Ares, considering ENCOM’s current situation. However, exploring Mackey’s position within ENCOM after the first film could explain how Eve rose to power within the company and potentially introduce a new rival, adding complexity to the existing conflict between ENCOM and Dillinger.

Beck

Before the upcoming film Tron: Ares, there was the animated series Tron: Uprising, which took place between Tron: Legacy and its events. The show depicted the early days of Clu’s power within the Grid and featured a talented voice cast playing programs fighting against his increasing control. The standout character was Beck, Tron’s apprentice and the central hero of the series.

Whether or not Beck will return isn’t clear, leaving the possibility open for future appearances. It’s even possible Elijah Wood, who voiced the character, could reprise his role, potentially bringing other popular actors into the series. If a sequel to Tron: Ares happens, it would be great to see it incorporate ideas and characters from the Uprising spin-off as well.

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2025-10-28 21:20