Before Jeff Bridges got to the set of Tron: Ares, he was informed that his co-star Jared Leto would prefer to be addressed by his character, Ares. The Oscar-winner is known for his method acting ways.
“He’s one of those guys. Everyone has different methods and modes man,” said Bridges to laughs during Tron: Ares’ laser-heavy presentation at San Diego Comic-Con Friday.
“I didn’t want to offend him as a thespo,” Bridges continued, addressing Leto, who is known as a method actor. “But I thought, ‘I wanted to have a certain intimacy with you. I know your name is Ares. Can I just call you Air?’ He said, ‘Yeah man! You can call me whatever you want!’ We had a great time.”
Leto, for his part, recalled the first scene he had with Bridges. “I just blurted out, ‘cut!’ Everyone was surprised, because I don’t often do that. The first AD comes over and said, ‘Is everything OK? What’s wrong?’ And I said, ‘You know, I just can’t stop smiling, because I’m working with my guy.’”
Tron: Ares, from director Joachim Rønning, arrives Oct. 10 and unlike the original films, in which our heroes enter the digital world known as the Grid, this film has programs from the Grid arriving in the real world. It is a big swing for Disney, as while the 1982 original Tron became a cult classic, it was not a hit. Neither was 2010 sequel Tron: Legacy. Still, the property, created by writer-director Steven Lisberger, has endured. “My feeling about Tron is the most important thing is we kick this technology around artistically before it kicks us around,” said Lisberger to applause.
The Tron films have been known for their unique scores, with Daft Punk’s work on Tron: Legacy now considered a classic. Nine Inch Nails stepped into the role for Ares, but moderator Kevin Smith jokingly asked why Leto wasn’t involved in the score.
“You guys didn’t think to reach out to, Jared? I hear he likes music as well,” Smith said to laughs, referencing Leto’s career as the frontman of rock band 30 Seconds to Mars.
Leto, who spent years developing the project as a star and producer, gave credit to the Daft Punk score from 15 years ago.
“When we were talking about music for this film, there was really very few people you could think about that could fill those shoes. Nine Inch Nails absolutely did it. They made music that will last a lifetime,” said Leto.
Indeed, the Tron: Ares panel suggests that the score will live up to the legacy, with lengthy, effects-heavy clips to the film backed by Nine Inch Nails impressing the crowd.
There were plenty of moments of comedy during the panel, with Bridges in full “The Dude” mode, harkening back to his The Big Lebowski Character. “The Grid abides,” Smith said at one point, with Bridges agreeing, “The Grid abides.”
Between Smith and Bridges, pretty much everyone on the panel was addressed as, “man,” multiple times, including co-star Greta Lee.
At another point, Smith made a reference to star Lee’s acclaimed romantic drama Past Lives, joking the script to Ares must have reminded her of that film.
Lee, who is new to Comic-Con and was surprised the Past Lives joke landed for that crowd, said “I told my agents just find something where I can ride a light cycle.” Which, as the audience in Hall H saw, she does indeed do in the new movie.
‘Tron: Ares’ hits the grid at Comic-Con
Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney