More than four decades since the original film graced the big screen, Tron – Ares has debuted to a variety of reviews. Aimed at breathing new life into the franchise, the movie features Jared Leto, Greta Lee, Evan Peters, Arturo Castro, and Gillian Anderson in leading roles. Additionally, franchise veteran Jeff Bridges returns to his character for a short segment of the film.
In a recent conversation with media channels, Evan Peters and Gillian Anderson explored how the Tron trilogy frequently connects to a consistent group of real-life antagonists – the Dillinger family. After Peters affirmed that his character, Julian Dillinger, embodies evil, Anderson, who portrayed his mother, elaborated – “Regardless of his awareness, the Dillingers have a history of questionable morality in their deeds.”
According to Gillian Anderson, “There must be some resonance in the family history and dynamics he experienced. The fact that I took over the company and successfully managed it for a decade, elevating it’s profitability, suggests that I likely wasn’t very involved. Therefore, having a mother who is present but perhaps not particularly affectionate could be somewhat detrimental and worrisome. It’s evident from their initial interaction that she has specific expectations of him that may be challenging to uphold.”
The actress further stated, “Any of those factors could potentially influence the situation, but he possesses a wonderfully engaging environment and has taken charge, so why not capitalize on his intelligence and skills ? Why not make the most of it ?”
In Tron – Ares, Anderson’s character, Elisabeth Dillinger, acts as a moral guide for Julian, until his choices ultimately result in her demise. The actress’ remarks provide intriguing insight into this relationship, suggesting that Elisabeth may recognize her own missteps regarding Julian.
As she pointed out, the Dillinger family has a long-standing reputation as adversaries. Ed Dillinger, portrayed by David Warner, appropriated Kevin Flynn’s (Bridges) code to secure several unmerited promotions at ENCOM. He was responsible for the creation of Commander Sark and the corruptor of the Master Control Program.
In Tron – Legacy, the Dillinger’s played a less significant role in the plot, yet they were still included. Cillian Murphy portrayed Edward Dillinger Jr., the son of Ed and brother to Elisabeth, who served as a software designer at ENCOM.
Blu-ray bonus features for Tron – Legacy disclosed that Edward Jr. was involved in a conspiracy with a digital version of his father, although this storyline was never explored further.
A recurring theme throughout the Tron films is the Dillinger family’s unhealthy ambition for power and wealth, a drive that is perfectly captured in Julian’s character development. It will be fascinating to observe how his narrative unfolds following Tron – Ares, especially considering his digitized destiny at the film’s conclusion.