Collider’sMaggie Lovittcaught up withCameron Monaghanat Calgary Expo, where he shared an intriguing glimpse into his long-standing connection with theTronfranchise, a journey that began long before his casting in the upcoming filmTron: Ares.Directed byJoachim Rønningand starringJared Letoalongside Monaghan, the film, just like the original four decades ago, promises to push the boundaries of visual effects and storytelling within the iconic digital world.
“I think I first saw the firstTronon a plane when I was younger. It was an international flight. I remember watching the original, and I thought it was from the ’90s or something, becauseit was pretty amazing how a movie from that era could look that amazing, and utilizing computers the way they did,” Monaghan said. His early exposure to the originalTronleft a lasting impression, marveling at its groundbreaking use of computer-generated imagery.
His relationship with the franchise deepened significantly years later: “Then I went to theTron: Legacypremiere when I was 16 years old, and had just done my first movie for Disney at the time. So, that was really cool getting to go to the El Capitan Theater in LA and seeing that on a big screen.” This experience at the premiere, coupled with his budding career with Disney, tied Monaghan closer to theTronlegacy.
Cameron Monaghan Thinks ‘Tron: Ares’ Will Be Mindblowing
Monaghan also reflected on the enduring appeal and technological advancements of theTronfilms: “And that’s a movie that, I think, has now grown a cult fandom, in a similar waythat the originalTrondid as well, where people thought it was very technologically cool but it’s continued to grow.Tron Legacy, I just saw projected in 35MM at the New Beverly last year, and it really holds up, and has that amazing soundtrack by Daft Punk. So I like that those movies have a number of years of separation between them. They don’t come out very often, and every time they do, they show a new era of technology and filmmaking.”
Looking forward to his own contribution to the series withTron: Ares, Monaghan expressed his admiration for the film’s creative direction: “I think this one, in a very similar way, is going to really push forward what can be done, from a visual perspective." He added, “I would sometimes even come in on days I wasn’t working, because that set was really amazing. A lot of the practical sets were pretty phenomenal, and I would love to go look at those as well.”
Tron: Aresdebuts exclusively in theaters on June 14, 2025. The original is streaming now on Disney+.
Tron: Ares
