Ares’ Have A Post-Credits Scene? How The Ending Sets Up ‘Tron 4’

Tron: Ares has officially entered the grid. Whether you’re heading to theaters or have already seen the film, here’s what you need to know about the mid-credits scene everyone’s talking about and how it connects to a potential follow-up sequel in the Tron universe.

Directed by Joachim Rønning, Tron: Ares marks the third installment in the sci-fi video game franchise, following Tron (1982) and Tron: Legacy (2010). The film centers on a highly sophisticated program named Ares, “who is sent from the digital world into the real world on a dangerous mission, marking humankind’s first encounter with A.I. beings,” the synopsis reads.

The Tron franchise has always explored the technology of its time, and this movie does the same by focusing on artificial intelligence. “In the way the first film talked about home computers, just computers and video games, that was topical,” Leto explained to Good Morning America. “This movie is coming out at a time where everyone is talking about AI and how that’s changing the world.”

Leto stars as the super-intelligent A.I. program Ares, created by Julian Dillinger (Evan Peters), the grandson of Ed Dillinger and the current CEO of Dillinger Systems. Greta Lee plays as Eve Kim, the new CEO of Encom, while Jeff Bridges reprises his role as Tron hero Kevin Flynn. The cast also includes Hasan Minhaj, Jodie Turner-Smith, Arturo Castro, Cameron Monaghan and Gillian Anderson.

Like many Disney films, Tron: Ares has a treat for fans who stick around after the main story ends. Its mid-credits scene delivers a shocking reveal that changes everything for Julian Dillinger and teases what could come next in Tron 4.

Does Tron: Ares Have A Post-Credits Scene?

Yes, Tron: Ares has a mid-credits scene that you’ll want to stay in your seats for.

While the first two Tron films didn’t include post-credit scenes, the latest installment in the sci-fi franchise features an extra scene early in the credits that’s related to a major plot point in the film.

The mid-credits scene of Tron: Ares not only reveals one character’s fate but also makes an eerie, full-circle connection to one of the franchise’s past villains, making it well worth sticking around for.

Warning: Spoilers ahead for the post-credit scene and ending of Tron: Ares.

Tron: Ares Post-Credit Scene Explained

In Tron: Ares’ mid-credits scene, the film reveals what happened to Julian after he lasered himself into his own Grid in an attempt to avoid capture by the police.

Viewers watch as Julian crawls out of the entry point of his Grid into the wrecked digital landscape. Then, a plinth rises from the ground and presents him with a glowing circular disc.

After grabbing the object and detaching it from the stand, Julian throws his head back in agony as it engulfs his body, forming a suit and helmet with the V-shaped symbol — the same style of suit worn by Sark in Tron.

Who Was Sark?

If you haven’t seen the 1982 original Tron or need a refresher, Sark was a villainous program created by ENCOM executive Ed Dillinger, who used the Master Control Program (MCP) to steal Kevin Flynn’s game designs. (David Warner portrayed both Ed and Sark in the film).

Meanwhile, in the digital world, Sark served as the ruthless commander of the MCP’s army and oversaw the games within the Grid. He ultimately met his end when Tron destroyed his Identity Disc, causing his digital form to collapse and dissolve.

Sark’s cameo at the end of Tron: Ares suggests that Julian is transforming into a digital reincarnation of his grandfather, setting up a potential storyline for him to return as Sark 2.0 in a future Tron 4.

Will There Be A Tron 4?

Tron 4 has not yet been confirmed by Disney, but the ending and mid-credits scene of Tron: Ares hint that there’s more story to tell.

In the film’s final moments, Ares holds an image of Quorra (Olivia Wilde), the isomorphic algorithm introduced in Tron: Legacy. Quorra, an ISO who emerged naturally within the Grid, crossed over into the real world with Sam Flynn at the end of Legacy. But her and Sam’s whereabouts in Tron: Ares are unknown.

Unlike Quorra, Ares was created by Julian, raising new questions about their potential connection. Could Quorra play a central role in a possible Tron 4? Will Ares seek her out? And could the next film explore a larger conversation between man-made and naturally born artificial intelligence?

“Quorra is made differently. She comes from the Grid,” director Joachim Rønning told a fan ahead of the premiere. “She’s different than Ares, in regards to the minutes they can live in the real world…”

When asked about the potential for a fourth film, writer Jesse Wigutow told SlashFilm that there’s plenty of potential for another installment, but one thing has to happen first.

“The lords above have to feel like there’s more to be had on a corporate level,” he explained. “Storytelling wise, I think there’s an enormous amount left on the table to work with, and it would be a lot of fun to get back to it.”

Tron: Ares is now playing in theaters. Watch the official trailer below.