New Tron: Ares ad features Mr. Beast — and fans are exhausted

On September 5, Disney released a new promo for Tron: Ares. Before audiences could see fresh footage of Jared Leto’s digital messiah, however, the trailer opened with a surprise cameo: YouTube megastar and candy bar entrepreneur Mr. Beast uttering the line “Let’s do this!” in the flattest, most robotic way imaginable.

Cue collective groans across the internet.

Tron fans can’t catch a break

Being a Tron fan has always been an exercise in patience. The original cult classic spawned a beloved sequel, Tron: Legacy, but new films arrive once in a generation, while tie-in games are few and far between. After years of silence, Disney finally brought the series back with Tron: Ares. But excitement is quickly souring.

The problems run deeper than Mr. Beast’s bizarre involvement. The film stars Jared Leto, whose off-screen controversies and on-screen performances have left many unconvinced. The plot doesn’t inspire confidence either: digital beings escaping the Grid to invade the real world. Yes, a Lightcycle slicing a police car in half looks cool. No, leaving the Grid doesn’t.

Pair that with tone-deaf marketing choices, and it almost feels like Disney is daring fans not to show up.

Small silver linings

It’s not all bad. The film has at least brought some positives: Disney remastered Tron: Legacy in 4K, and perhaps more excitingly, Nine Inch Nails is contributing new music to the soundtrack. Even if the film crashes, fans can still enjoy the audiovisual spoils.

Still, the Mr. Beast cameo has become emblematic of a larger worry: that Disney doesn’t understand Tron or its audience.

Verdict

Despite everything, diehard fans (myself included) will probably show up on October 10 for opening night. Because no matter how misguided the marketing, it’s still Tron. And Tron fans take what they can get.

💡 Player Tip
If you’re planning to see Tron: Ares, temper expectations. Go in for the visuals and soundtrack, not the story — and maybe rewatch Tron: Legacy in 4K first to remind yourself why you cared in the first place.