Top Gun Director Rejects Tron: Ares as His True Sequel
Joseph Kosinski distances himself from Disney's latest sci-fi disappointment, explaining why he doesn't consider it a legitimate follow-up to his 2010 film despite being credited as executive producer.
The filmmaker behind the massive success of Top Gun: Maverick is making waves by publicly distancing himself from Disney's latest science fiction venture. Joseph Kosinski, who launched his directing career with the 2010 cyberpunk thriller Tron: Legacy, has openly stated that the studio's newest entry in the franchise doesn't represent the continuation he envisioned.
Speaking with Empire Magazine, Kosinski explained that while the new film incorporates some visual elements from his scrapped follow-up project, the narrative has been fundamentally altered. The director emphasized that audiences should view the latest installment as a separate story rather than a direct continuation of his work.
Creative Vision Lost in Translation
"I don't really see it as a sequel. This definitely used elements of a movie I worked on, called 'Tron: Ascension', in terms of maybe some of the set pieces and visuals, but it really inverted the story and told it from a completely different point of view. So, I see it more like a parallel story as opposed to a sequel. But I'm thrilled that what Steve Lisberger created in 1982 still resonates today," Kosinski revealed during the interview.
Despite maintaining an executive producer credit on Joachim Rønning's version, Kosinski had zero involvement in developing the screenplay. The disconnect between his original vision and the final product becomes even more significant when considering the film's commercial performance, which has struggled to meet expectations with earnings of $142 million against a production budget of $180 million.
The Road Not Taken
Kosinski's original concept for his planned sequel would have featured a bold narrative structure spanning multiple environments. His vision called for an invasion storyline where digital programs would breach into the physical world, creating a unique reversal of the typical human-enters-computer narrative.
"What I'm excited about is the concept, which is an invasion movie from inside the machine coming out, as opposed to one we've usually seen. We hinted at that at the end of 'Legacy' [...], but the idea for 'Ascension' was a movie that was, the first act was in the real world, the second act was in the world of Tron, or multiple worlds of Tron, and the third act was totally in the real world," he explained in a previous interview.
This ambitious approach would have explored the blurring boundaries between human and artificial intelligence, offering audiences a natural progression from the themes established in his 2010 film. The concept promised to expand the franchise's mythology while maintaining continuity with established storylines.
Timing and Missed Opportunities
The cancellation of Kosinski's sequel plans stemmed from Disney's shifting priorities following their acquisitions of Marvel and Star Wars properties. At the time, his 2010 film's box office performance of $399 million against a $200 million budget was considered underwhelming by studio standards.
However, Kosinski's subsequent successes have proven his blockbuster credentials. His work on Top Gun: Maverick demonstrated his ability to revitalize established franchises while respecting their legacy, and his recent F1 project has shown continued commercial viability. These achievements highlight what might have been possible had Disney maintained faith in his cyberpunk vision.