We recently reported on a rumor that Evan Peters (X-Men: Days of Future Past, Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story) was in negotiations to join the cast of Disney's Tron: Ares, and THR has now confirmed that the highly in-demand actor is set to join Jared Leto in the long-awaited sci-fi threequel.
The trade's report doesn't disclose any details about Peters' role, but Above the Line has heard that he will play the villain.
Though 2010's Tron: Legacy didn't do particularly well at the box office, and wasn't exactly what you'd call a hit with critics, it, like the first Tron, has amassed something of a cult following over the years. Fans had been hoping for a follow-up announcement after several false starts, and last year, we finally got word that a new film is in the works.
Ares was reportedly developed as a sequel, while also serving as a soft reboot of the franchise. Apparently, this third instalment will "focus on the emergence of a sentient program that crosses over into the human world that is not ready for contact. Leto will play the lead role of Ares, the manifestation of the program.
Joachim Rønning (Maleficent: Mistress of Evil) is on board as director.
Jodie Turner-Smith (The Acolyte) will play the female lead, who is named Athena. There have also been rumors that Legacy cast stars Jeff Bridges, Bruce Boxleitner, Garrett Hedlund, and Olivia Wilde are set to reprise their respective roles, but we haven't heard anything solid in that regard.
Tron: Ares hasn't been given an official release date, but production is expected to commence later this year in Toronto.