Boxleitner to return as Tron in TV series starting this summer

…before the Legacy there was an Uprising…

That’s a pretty catchy introduction to the new animated series previewed last year with the home release version of Tron: Legacy on DVD and Blu-Ray and at Comic-Con in San Diego. Back then the prediction was that we’d see the series by this January, and there are no reports out from Disney as to the cause of the delay. Like The Hobbit and rebooted Star Trek, this will be a “sequel prequel” fitting in between Tron and Tron: Legacy, but apparently after Jai Nitz‘s Tron: Betrayal graphic novel, since it will start after Clu takes over the Grid.

The early trailer looks fun, like a cross between the original Speed Racer series from the 1970s mixed with a little modern anime, and it shares the overall feel of Tron: Legacy, the live action film that continued the adventures of Flynn and Tron from the original film, Tron, from 1982. It also looks to have a lot in common with the Tron: Evolution video game released last year. Clearly Disney appears to be coordinating its Tron franchise elements, although the release of Tron: Uprising would probably be more popularly received closer to Tron: Legacy’s release.

Tron: Uprising , which was originally to be available January 3, 2012, is now scheduled for release in May. Early marketing describes the book and animated series as follows:

When the computer world of The Grid is taken over by an evil tyrant, one young man named Beck must join forces with the legendary hero Tron to free his home city. Under Tron’s tutelage, Beck will take on a secret identity to fight back, bringing a superhero sensibility to the world of Tron. Featuring brand new settings, characters, and vehicles, TRON: Uprising will bring a unique style and classic storytelling to the Disney Channel and Disney XD! The animated original movie, hitting TV screens in spring 2012, will kick-off a brand new series in summer 2012. Kids who can’t get enough of superheroes, action-adventure stories, and the sleek and unique look of TRON are sure to love this retelling of the TRON: Uprising original movie. The novelization will be a retelling of the events of the movie, and will include a full-color eight page insert with frames from the stunning animated feature!

The series is expected to air on Disney XD and possibly the Disney Channel. There has been no other releases about whether or not there will be an animated movie as stated in the promotional materials. Tron: Uprising will air in 10 initial episodes.

But the best part is the voice cast, with Bruce Boxleitner, practically non-existent in the title role in Tron: Legacy, who will reprise his role as Tron; Elijah Wood, who played Frodo in The Lord of the Rings series, will play Beck, a character on the Grid that is trained by Tron and takes on the show’s villain, General Tesler, played by Lance Henriksen (Alien series, The Right Stuff, Terminator). Also appearing will be Mandy Moore (Tangled), Paul Ruebens (Batman Returns, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Mystery Men), voice actor from hundreds of animated series Fred Tatasciore, Emmanuelle Chrique (Entourage), Nate Corddry, and Reginald VelJohnson (Die Hard, Die Hard 2).

Here is the trailer for Tron: Uprising: