Tron: Ares Makes Major Marketing Push with New Trailer Release and Ticket Sales Launch

Disney’s highly anticipated sci-fi sequel Tron: Ares dominated entertainment news on September 4, 2025, as the studio launched a comprehensive marketing campaign less than six weeks before the film’s theatrical debut. The campaign included the release of a new IMAX trailer, nationwide ticket sales launch, exclusive set visit reports, and the announcement of premium theater experiences and merchandise tie-ins.

New IMAX Trailer and Ticket Sales Launch

Disney released a brand new Tron: Ares IMAX trailer, showcasing fresh footage from the upcoming sci-fi blockbuster. The trailer highlights the film’s central premise, featuring Jared Leto’s character Ares, a sophisticated AI program who is brought into the real world by Julian Dillinger, played by Evan Peters. The marketing materials emphasize that this marks “humankind’s first encounter with A.I. beings,” positioning the film as particularly relevant to contemporary discussions about artificial intelligence.

Simultaneously, tickets for Tron: Ares went on sale across major theater chains, with early access screenings scheduled for October 8 in 3D and premium formats, ahead of the wide release on October 10, 2025. The film will be presented in IMAX theaters nationwide, capitalizing on the franchise’s reputation for cutting-edge visual effects.

Producer Clarifies Relationship to Legacy

Producer Justin Springer addressed long-standing fan questions about the film’s connection to 2010’s Tron: Legacy during press interviews released today. Springer clarified that while Tron: Ares exists within the same mythology as previous films, it is not a direct sequel to Legacy. “It’s a new story. It’s not a sequel to Legacy. It’s a new Tron story that does exist within the same mythology,” Springer explained.

Importantly, Springer emphasized that the events of Tron: Legacy remain canonical and are not being undone by the new film. “It still happened. And there’s nothing we’re doing to say that it didn’t. And there’s things in the DNA that keep it alive, even in our story,” he stated. This approach leaves the door open for potential future films that could more directly continue the Legacy storyline.

Exclusive Set Visit Reports Surface

Multiple entertainment outlets published detailed set visit reports from Tron: Ares production in Vancouver, providing new insights into the film’s scope and ambitions. The reports revealed that the film features multiple versions of “The Grid” and explores the concept of digital beings achieving permanence in the real world.

According to set visit coverage, the film centers on two competing companies, Encom and Dillinger, racing to acquire the “Permanence Code” - the key technology that would allow digital assets from The Grid to exist permanently in the real world. Director Joachim Rønning described the production as pushing visual effects boundaries, with Industrial Light & Magic treating the project as “the Holy Grail of computer graphics”.

Premium Theater Experiences and Merchandise

Theater chains unveiled exclusive Tron: Ares merchandise and experiences for the October release. AMC Theaters announced a themed popcorn bucket and keychain, while Cinemark revealed a detailed Lightcycle popcorn bucket featuring a 3D sculpted motorcycle with rider. Marcus Theaters will offer an Ares Data Disk pin, and Regal Cinemas designed an Arcade Cabinet popcorn bucket.

Additionally, select theaters will host a special double feature screening of Tron: Legacy and Tron: Ares on October 8, giving fans the opportunity to experience both films back-to-back.

Director and Cast Promote Film’s Ambitions

Director Joachim Rønning released new featurettes explaining his vision for elevating the franchise to “the next level”. The production required shutting down portions of Vancouver for six weeks of nighttime filming to capture the film’s Lightcycle sequences in real-world environments.

Jared Leto, who stars as the titular Ares, shared his enthusiasm for joining the franchise: “I love ‘Tron.’ You know, you saw this film as a kid, and there you are standing, completely lit up and you hop on the Lightcycle”. Franchise veteran Jeff Bridges, reprising his role as Kevin Flynn, praised the evolution of the series: “Seeing ‘Tron’ progress from the original to ‘Tron: Ares’ is just fantastic”.

Nine Inch Nails Soundtrack Anticipation

The marketing push also highlighted Nine Inch Nails’ involvement in creating the film’s soundtrack, marking the band’s first-ever film score under their group name. The complete Tron: Ares Original Motion Picture Soundtrack will be released on September 19 via Interscope Records, with the lead single “As Alive As You Need Me To Be” representing the band’s first new music in five years.

Conclusion

September 4, 2025, marked a pivotal moment in the Tron: Ares promotional campaign, with Disney leveraging multiple channels to build anticipation for the October 10 release. The coordinated rollout of trailers, ticket sales, merchandise, and exclusive content demonstrates the studio’s confidence in the film’s potential to revitalize the franchise after a 15-year gap since Tron: Legacy. With its star-studded cast including Jared Leto, Greta Lee, Evan Peters, and Gillian Anderson, plus cutting-edge visual effects and a Nine Inch Nails soundtrack, Tron: Ares positions itself as a major fall blockbuster that could define the future direction of Disney’s sci-fi property.