Why Disney Had to ‘Adjust’ TRON: ARES’ Marketing Campaign After This Major Spoiler Leaked

Published: September 25, 2025

By India McCarty

Before the release of a movie, studios are wary of spoilers, but sometimes even the best laid plans go awry — for example, Jeff Bridges’ recent accidental reveal that he’ll be in the upcoming TRON: ARES.

“While Disney hadn’t planned on revealing Bridges’ appearance in the forthcoming TRON: ARES, as early as last year, the grizzled genius…casually spilled the beans anyway,” Jeremy Smith, a writer for SlashFilm, wrote.

Smith added that this premature reveal meant Disney had to “adjust its marketing campaign” a bit, but many fans of the original movie series are excited to hear Bridges will return in the latest installment — including his costar, Jared Leto.

“He’s the best,” Leto told Entertainment Tonight. “Everything — he’s everything that you think he’s going to be. He’s kind, he’s fun, he’s funny, he’s generous. Safe to say, some of the most memorable moments from making the movie were the days that we had with Jeff. I wish I had more. I look forward to more in the future.”

He continued, “He’s just a good person to be around, a great example of an awesome career. And I think the first time he walked on set, everyone just started applauding.”

Leto said it was “impossible” to picture a TRON movie without Bridges, adding, “I’ve learned a lot from him over the years. He’s been a great teacher from afar. To work with one of your heroes is just a beautiful thing.”

Bridges has also spoken about his upcoming role in TRON: ARES, telling Empire he was “a bit surprised” to hear his character would be returning.

“You know, this is the Grid,” the actor said, referring to the digital world where the movies take place. “The whole digital universe is all up for grabs. It’s all possible in that place. It worked out that [my character] still has some sort of consciousness.”

Bridges also reflected on the journey his character, Flynn, has taken since the first movie’s 1982 premiere.

“As human beings, we seek perfection. And sometimes we miss the whole point of the thing — the idea of the journey being the destination,” he explained. “Flynn originally explored the digital world in the hopes of achieving some sort of perfection for humanity, but now… the plot thickens, you know?”

Fans of TRON are eager to see what’s in store for Flynn and the rest of the movie’s characters, and they don’t have long to wait — TRON: ARES hits theaters Oct. 10.

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