Tron Sequel Temporarily Axed Due to Hollywood Strikes
Joachim Rønning, the acclaimed filmmaker known for his work on prominent Disney films, shared news on Monday that halted hearts across Hollywood: production on his long-awaited Tron sequel, Tron: Ares, has been temporarily suspended. The reason? Ongoing WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Via Instagram, Rønning lamented over the layoff of more than 150 team members, terming the shutdown as "indefinite"-a reality, he fears would have progressively tougher ramifications on all involved.
With what can only be seen as a plea for swift action, Rønning called out the AMPTP, SAG-AFTRA, and the WGA, urging them to expedite the negotiation process. "The AMPTP, SAG-AFTRA and WGA need to speed up the negotiating process and not leave the table until it’s done," Rønning petitioned on his post. His frustration is painfully palpable, as he questions Hollywood's ability to barter billion-dollar deals at breakfast, yet drags its feet when the lives and livelihood of its industry population are at stake.
Lauded news authority, Deadline, meanwhile, has furnished details from sources that suggest the suspension of Tron: Ares is temporary. Apparently, production will resume once the dust from the guild strikes settles. On a hopeful note, WGA and AMPTP have deferred their talks to a soonish later date this week. The WGA is currently in the throes of studying a counterproposal from the AMPTP.
Tron: Ares, staffed up before the SAG-AFTRA strike, sports a formidable cast spearheaded by Jared Leto, Evan Peters, Greta Lee, Sarah Desjardins, Cameron Monaghan, and Jodie Turner-Smith. The film, third in the Tron series, is built around Leto's Ares: a computer program exploring a journey from the digital to the human world.
Rønning, who earned a best foreign language film Oscar nomination for 'Kon-Tiki' in 2013, is also known for directing other Disney marquee titles such as Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales ($796M WW box office) and Maleficent: Mistress of Evil ($491.7M WW).
Now, on to the fun bits:
Say, doesn't it bother you when your Monday morning meeting keeps getting rescheduled? Now imagine the kind of Monday Joachim Rønning had. No coffee. No hands-on crafting of a cinematic universe. Just a lot of scrolling on Instagram and typing grievances into the caption box.
No doubt the strike is replete with ramifications, from those directly affected such as Rønning and his 150+ suddenly idle crew members to countless film enthusiasts eagerly awaiting Tron's next saga. It's indeed a low blow for Hollywood, but makes for an ironic plot twist when you remember that Rønning's next Tron, Ares, traverses the realm of AI and its impact on what it means to be human. Rønning states, “AI needs to be regulated. There is no doubt about the threat the technology poses to all creatives.” Waiting in the wings, Rønning may find his AI-driven plot commenting on real-world labor talks.
If only real-life plot resolutions unfolded as quickly as they do in Disney flicks. Until then, to the screenwriters, actors, and the seemingly redundant AI representatives - stay strong. And to Mr. Rønning - the delay might feel like a virtual black hole right now, but remember this, diamonds form under pressure. Also, Disney magic, even with delayed gratification, seldom disappoints.
But hey, Hollywood, if you're reading this, maybe pick up the pace yeah? Your audience may not come with a time machine.
