A TRON TV series that was reportedly in the works for Disney+ has been scrapped. Even though TRON is not Disney's most successful franchise, it is a cult favorite that has continued to be in discussions for new interpretations. The 2010 film TRON: Legacy served as a reboot/sequel to the original 1982 film, but the movie's mediocre box office performance left Disney without a clear path to follow to keep the franchise alive.
Although there were plans for TRON 3 at one point, Disney ultimately moved away from the idea of bringing Garrett Hedlund and Olivia Wilde back. Instead, it was more recently reported that the idea of a reboot starring Jared Leto could be in TRON's future. Leto even confirmed in 2017 that he was involved with the reboot but noted that it was in "the very early days" of discussions. There has yet to be another update on the possibility of a new TRON movie, and now it appears fans of this world missed out on a Disney+ original series too.
In a piece by THR breaking down the status of Disney+ and the service's developmental history, it has been revealed that a TRON TV series was one project that was in the works. The show came from 12 Years a Slave's Oscar-winning writer John Ridley as part of his overall deal with ABC and was in development for several months. However, the series, which was never reported to be in the works, is now said to have fallen apart.
With the continued wait for more TRON content, the idea of a Disney+ series from John Ridley being scrapped is not the news fans wanted to hear. Unfortunately, there are not a lot of details regarding what the TRON show would entail. For instance, it is unknown whether or not the show would exist within the continuity of the previous two films or return any of the cast members. It is also not clear why the series is not moving forward, as it could be the type of high-profile original content Disney+ needs.
Even though Ridley's TRON show is not moving forward, Disney+ could be the perfect home for the franchise to continue, as long as budgetary concerns didn't play a factor in the show falling apart. There is an entire world within TRON that could be explored in depth through a TV show that the movies haven't had the time to explore. As discouraging as this news might be for some, the potential positive outlook is that Disney is still interested in doing something new with TRON. With Ridley's project no longer in the works, now the property could find a new creative team and direction that will bring it back to the digital world.
Source: THR