Jared Leto’s Tron: Ares Flops at Box Office, Raising Concerns for He-Man

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Jared Leto’s latest film, *Tron: Ares*, isn’t performing well at the box office. After its first four days in theaters, it has only earned $36.8 million, which is less than his previous film, *Morbius*, made in the same amount of time ($41.1 million). This is concerning, both for Leto and for Disney, as they are also working with him on the upcoming *Masters of the Universe* movie.

While Leto is set to play Skeletor in the upcoming Masters of the Universe movie and was previously considered the film’s biggest star, the poor performance of Tron: Ares has led to questions about his ability to draw audiences. This raises concerns about whether people will go see another visually-intensive fantasy movie centered around him.

Tron: Ares Adds to Leto’s Losing Streak

The new movie *Tron: Ares* didn’t perform as well as expected at the box office. While experts predicted an opening weekend of $45 to $50 million, it earned significantly less. This is likely to be another costly disappointment for Disney, considering the film’s $180 million production budget.

This situation feels familiar for Leto. Like Sony’s *Morbius*, which was widely criticized for its poor performance and became a running joke online, *Tron: Ares* appears to be another visually flashy film that isn’t resonating with audiences, and Leto is again the lead actor.

What This Means for Masters of the Universe

The upcoming *Masters of the Universe* reboot, a project from Mattel and Amazon MGM, is scheduled for release next year. However, some fans are already worried about it. Rumors indicate that a significant portion of the movie will be set on Earth, rather than the traditional planet of Eternia, and many believe this is a way to save money – a decision that rarely pleases dedicated fans.

Fans are also worried about how Skeletor will be depicted in the movie. Jared Leto is a major star involved, and some fear he’ll spend a lot of screen time as Keldor, Skeletor’s appearance *before* he becomes Skeletor. This could mean less of the iconic skull-masked look, similar to Pedro Pascal’s choice to show his face in *The Mandalorian*. There’s concern it could repeat the mistake made by *Halo*, which lost fans’ trust by revealing its main character’s face too early, ultimately leading to the show’s failure.

Facing an uphill battle

If viewers aren’t convinced by Jared Leto’s portrayal of He-Man, the movie *Masters of the Universe* might have trouble attracting fans who already doubt his casting. Both *Tron* and *He-Man* aim for a similar audience: men who grew up with 1980s pop culture and are now wary of Hollywood revivals. This group isn’t easily impressed by just a familiar name or flashy special effects; they want a genuine adaptation, respect for the original story, and a lead actor who feels right for the part.

With the disappointing theatrical performance of *Tron: Ares*, there’s concern that *Masters of the Universe* might struggle to attract audiences as well. The film needs to focus on the core elements that made *He-Man* popular, rather than relying too heavily on Jared Leto’s celebrity.

Mattel Promises Big Things

Even though some people are doubtful, Robbie Brenner, President of Mattel Studios, says the *Masters of the Universe* movie is incredibly ambitious. She told *The Hollywood Reporter* at MIP in Cannes that the production was huge, utilizing eight different studio backlots and featuring characters that were eight feet tall. She believes it’s the largest project she’s ever been involved with, surpassing even the massive success of the *Barbie* movie, which grossed over a billion dollars.

I visited the set last year, and honestly, it was bigger than anything I’ve ever seen – even the set for *Barbie*. It was huge! We used two or three sound stages and took over eight backlots. There were incredible, larger-than-life characters – some were even eight feet tall – walking around. It was just a crazy, amazing movie.

She shared that she recently saw a director’s cut of the film and was incredibly impressed. She believes it will be their second movie released in theaters, and that it’s a great pairing with *Barbie*. She’s confident audiences will love it, describing it as very fun and unique.

The movie has the potential to surprise people who doubt it, but Jared Leto’s past performances suggest it will be a challenge.

After the disappointing performance of *Tron: Ares*, Jared Leto’s reputation for box office success is in question. His next film, *Masters of the Universe*, will be a crucial test to prove he can deliver a hit. However, unless the movie offers something new and fans get a convincing Skeletor – and not just Jared Leto in the role – it risks becoming another failure in a string of underperforming films.

Release info

The movie *Masters of the Universe* is scheduled to be released in theaters on December 19, 2026. It’s a production from Mattel Studios and Amazon MGM Studios, directed by Travis Knight, who previously worked on *Bumblebee* and *Kubo and the Two Strings*. The screenplay is by Chris Butler and David Callaham.

The film features Nicholas Galitzine as He-Man/Prince Adam, Jared Leto as Skeletor, Camila Mendes as Teela, and Idris Elba as Man-At-Arms.

Morena Baccarin plays the Sorceress, Jóhannes Haukur Jóhannesson is Fisto, and Kristen Wiig portrays Roboto.

Jon Xue Zhang is playing Ram-Man, and Stephen Adentan is Moss Man. Alison Brie, Sam C. Wilson, Kojo Attah, and Hafthor Bjornsson will portray Evil-Lyn, Trap Jaw, Tri-Klops, and Goat Man as members of Skeletor’s forces. James Wilkinson will play Mekaneck.

James Purefoy and Charlotte Riley star as King Randor and Queen Marlena, respectively. Sasheer Zamata and Christian Vunipola complete the main cast.

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2025-10-16 00:32