It's Game Over for Tron 3
When Tron: Legacy was released in 2010, it received a mixed reception where the film's VFX were praised, but the acting and writing were the film's weakest links. However, despite tepid reviews, the film still managed to make around $400m and was the 11th highest-grossing film of 2010. It also helped gain street cred with the electronic robot duo Daft Punk providing the film's soundtrack. With a fresh new following standing alongside long-time Tron fans, it was all but a guarantee that a sequel to Legacy would eventually be made.
Indeed, it appeared that the purported Tron: Ascension was set to begin pre-production this fall. In fact, it was just this past March that reports were confirming a production location in Vancouver with Legacy stars Olivia Wilde (Drinking Buddies) and Garrett Hedlund (On the Road) and director Joseph Kosinski (Oblivion) returning.
However, Disney suddenly pulled the plug on the film's production over the weekend, as was originally reported by The Hollywood Reporter. While no official word has been said, some sites are speculating a correlation between this film and Tomorrowland's weak debut of $33m in comparison to its $188m budget.
With many more live-action films on the slate for Disney, such as adaptations of Disney classics The Jungle Book, Alice: Through the Looking Glass and Beauty and the Beast, the company may want to re-visit each respective films' budgets. As for Tron: Ascension, a fan petition has already been launched in hopes of Disney's reconsideration. However, as of press time, the site is down, perhaps due to high volume.
[via The Hollywood Reporter]