- Disney’s ‘Tron: Ares’ has spectacularly failed at the box office, earning just $60.2 million globally in its opening weekend against a budget of at least $180 million.
- The disastrous opening casts serious doubt on star Jared Leto’s ability to lead a major franchise, especially following the 2022 flop ‘Morbius’.
- Hollywood insiders reveal that Leto’s standing as a bankable leading man was already in question, and this box office bomb may be the final nail in the coffin.
- Leto was a driving force behind this version of the film, successfully lobbying to have the story refocused on his character, Ares.
‘Tron: Ares’ Derezzed at the Box Office
In a crushing blow to Disney and its star Jared Leto, the sci-fi sequel ‘Tron: Ares’ was decisively rejected by audiences this weekend, crashing and burning at the box office. The tentpole film managed to pull in a meager $33.2 million domestically and $27 million overseas, resulting in a dismal global debut of $60.2 million. With a hefty production budget reported to be at least $180 million, the film’s performance is an undeniable catastrophe.
A Failure to Connect
Despite a flashy promotional tour, which included Leto perched 30 feet above Piccadilly Circus, the film failed to generate excitement beyond a niche group of die-hard fans. Sources at Disney noted that the key demographic of 18- to 24-year-old males severely underindexed, a fatal flaw for a film of this scale. Compounding the poor ticket sales is a lukewarm B+ CinemaScore from audiences, suggesting that even those who showed up were not impressed, dimming hopes for any box office legs. The consensus is that the ‘Tron’ franchise will likely be retired from the big screen for good.
Is This the End of Leto as a Franchise Lead?
The failure of ‘Tron: Ares’ is not just an IP problem; it places a significant spotlight on Jared Leto’s declining status as a franchise headliner. This marks his second consecutive blockbuster disappointment after Sony’s Spider-Man spinoff ‘Morbius’ also failed to perform in 2022, grossing only $167 million worldwide.
Insiders Weigh In
According to Hollywood insiders, this outcome was predictable. One top talent manager questioned the logic of casting Leto, stating, “In a world where Michael Fassbender, Ewan McGregor and Benedict Cumberbatch are having a hard time getting lead roles, why would you even go to a person who can’t open a movie and who has question marks around him as a person?”
Leto was reportedly a key advocate for this iteration of ‘Tron’. After an earlier version of the script was shelved, he, along with former Disney live-action head Sean Bailey, championed a new direction that reframed the narrative to center on his character, Ares. Leto not only starred but also served as a producer, earning a seven-figure fee. However, his power to greenlight projects through sheer will may now be a thing of the past.
‘No One Asked for This Reboot’
While the blame isn’t solely on Leto—one agency partner bluntly stated, “You could have had Ryan Gosling, it wasn’t going to work. No one asked for this reboot”—the association with another high-profile failure has left his blockbuster currency colder than ever. As he prepares to take on the role of Skeletor in MGM’s ‘Masters of the Universe,’ the industry is watching to see if he can still command the screen, or if his days as a franchise-leading man are truly over.
Image Referance: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/jared-leto-tron-ares-box-office-1236401068/