The Hollywood Reporter has announced that Disney will stop releasing films in the “Tron” franchise in theaters. This decision was prompted by the disappointing box office performance of the latest installment in the series.
In its opening weekend, “Tron: Ares” managed to earn just $60 million worldwide, despite a production budget of approximately $180 million. According to the publication, Disney was dissatisfied with this performance, leading to no plans for new films in the sci-fi series in the near future.
Additionally, reports indicate that the primary motivation for creating “Ares” was actor Jared Leto, who had long sought to bring a sequel to life. The studio hoped that Leto’s star power, particularly after winning an Oscar in 2014 for “Dallas Buyers Club,” would draw large audiences to theaters. However, Leto’s popularity among fans has significantly waned in recent years, especially following the poor reception of “Morbius” in 2022.
“Tron: Ares” was released worldwide on October 9. The film explores how the digital world begins to infiltrate reality, with inhabitants of both realms engaged in a battle while attempting to avert widespread destruction. Critics’ reviews have been mixed, as evidenced by its 54% rating on the aggregator Rotten Tomatoes.