Tron: Ares director Joachim Rønning has told RTÉ Entertainment that it was important for the new sci-fi thriller to share the idea that artificial intelligence "can help advance humanity".
Since the original Jeff Bridges-starring Tron in 1982, the Disney franchise has been at the vanguard of new technology and what the future could look like.
Now, in a new story about AI and big tech, Tron: Ares sees Jared Leto star as Ares; a super-intelligent programme that is dispatched to the real world to track down a CEO (played by Greta Lee) who has made a discovery that will change humanity.
When RTÉ Entertainment told Norwegian filmmaker Rønning that his film's ultimate message of hope was as impressive as its action sequences and special effects, he replied: "Thank you for saying that, honestly."
"Obviously, when we started out making this film, the AI technology was not on the agenda," the Maleficent: Mistress of Evil and Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales director continued.
"In the process, it's kind of exploded and now everyone's using it, so I feel it's a very timely subject matter."
"I think the movie reflects a little bit my own view on it, actually, in the way that I'm a little 'mixed emotions' about AI, especially as an artist, as a filmmaker," said Rønning.
"I think we need proper guard rails, but at the same time, as you're pointing out, done the right way, AI can help advance humanity. It can be good - and that's my hope. And that was very important to get that across in the story."
Tron: Ares is in cinemas now.
