Disney rumored to be developing ‘Tron 3’ a ‘Tron’ reboot with Jared Leto attached

Disney’s Tron: Legacy disappointed some fans and many critics, leaving the studio with the challenge of moving the property forward and capitalizing on the franchise’s popularity.

THR is reporting that Disney is in the very early stages of development for a “Tron reboot” with Academy Award-winner, Suicide Squad co-star set to lead.

Tron: The Ghost in the Machine comic book

“No writer has been hired at this exploratory stage, and no filmmaker is involved,” The THR says. “Justin Springer, who co-produced Tron: Legacy and executive produced the Tom Cruise sci-fi movie Oblivion, will produce. Leto and his producing partner, Emma Ludbrook, would also be involved in some producing capacity if the project moves forward.”

“Sources say this new project is not a direct sequel and is being built out of the source code of the deleted Tron 3 script. Leto would play a character named Ares, who has not appeared onscreen before, but was a key player in that script.”

The 2010 film, directed by Joseph Kosinski (who also helmed Oblivion) starred Garrett Hedlund and Olivia Wilde and brought back Jeff Bridges to earn over $400 million globally.

The outlet noted that “it’s been a series of shutdowns and restarts for a sequel, and just as it seemed it was heading toward preproduction, the studio pulled the plug for good in 2015″ with some conversations returning in 2016.

Leto is a true all-star performer. Following his Oscar-winning performance in Dallas Buyers Club, Leto tackled one of DC’s most iconic villains, The Joker, last year in David Ayer’s critically reviled Suicide Squad. He’ll be seen next in Denis Villeneuve’s Blade Runner 2049 this fall and also has two dramas on the docket with The Outsider and Berlin, I Love You.

Some top Tron related stories from the archives:

Tron 3 “not dead’ says Garrett Hedlund

Tron: Legacy prompts fans to “dust off” old comic books

Tomorrowland bombs at the box office, Tron 3 may be doomed now

Check out key tags: Olivia Wilde  Tron 3  Garrett Hedlund  Jeff Bridges

Olivia Wilde as Quorra in “Tron: Legacy”