The Tron movie series has been stalled following the mixed reception of 2010's Tron: Legacy, but the franchise itself has been staying afloat in recent years through other areas. For instance, last year a rollercoaster called the Tron Lightcycle Power Run opened in Shanghai Disney, allowing attendees to simulate riding one of those glowing vehicles from the digital Disney world. Now it's seemingly been revealed that Disney World will receive its own Lightcycle Power Run attraction, which will replace the Tomorrowland Speedway.
The Tomorrowland Speedway, originally known as the Grand Prix Raceway, has been part of Disney World since the park opened in 1971, but after months of rumors, it's been confirmed by sources at WDW News Today that it will soon be torn down to make way for the United States' Lightcycle Power Run. Disney is expected to make the official announcement this Saturday, July 15, at its D23 convention. If the news holds up, Disney World visitors can continue to enjoy the Tomorrowland Speedway for the rest of 2017, but construction on the Tron attraction will likely begin in 2018. As for when it will actually open, that's hard to say, though one would imagine the powers-that-be would want it finished by 2021 at the latest, i.e. in time for when Disney World celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Given that Tron: Legacy failed to spawn a sequel, including the Lightcycle Power Run ride at Disney World is a good way to keep Tron fresh in the minds of the masses who visit the Florida vacation destination. It may also suggest that Disney is hoping to revitalize interest in the franchise. Even with Marvel and Star Wars now under the Disney umbrella, the company still obviously likes to spotlight its in-house material as much as possible. But at the very least, sitting on these lightcycles at Disney World will be the closest one can get (for now...) to imagining what it's like to ride around in the computer world first seen on the big screen in 1982.
Following Tron: Legacy's release, the plan was to eventually bring back Garrett Hedlund, Olivia Wilde and Bruce Boxleitner for a third Tron movie, and by March 2015, it was greenlit. A mere two months later, though, Disney decided to cancel the project, and as of this past February, director Joseph Kosinski described it as being in "cryogenic freeze." However, shortly after Kosinski made that comment, it was reported that Disney was exploring making a Tron reboot, which would star Jared Leto as a character named Ares, who was originally from the Tron: Ascension script. There have been no updates since that initial report, so it's hard to say whether or not Disney is still interested in going the reboot route. But whether Disney decides to continue the existing Tron series or start from scratch, the Lightcycle Power Run will work well either way. After all, with two movies, a TV series and numerous video games, the Tron franchise has accumulated enough fans who will undoubtedly enjoy this attraction.
Stay tuned to CinemaBlend for more news on the Tron franchise as it comes in.
