USA: Jeff Bridges, Bruce Boxleitner and Michael Sheen hit the blue carpet for Hollywood premiere of "Tron Legacy"

Record ID: 219460

  • Title: USA: Jeff Bridges, Bruce Boxleitner and Michael Sheen hit the blue carpet for Hollywood premiere of "Tron Legacy"
  • Date: 13th December 2010
  • Summary: MICHAEL SHEEN AND JAMES FRAIN TALKING TO MEDIA AND PUSH TO JAMES FRAIN (SOUNDBITE) (English) JAMES FRAIN ON WHY THE FIRST "TRON" FILM WAS NOT A MUCH BIGGER SUCCESS, SAYING: "It didn't crossover the way that it should have. It didn't connect with people the way that 'Star Wars' did. And, it deserves to. The ideas are so good. The images are so good. The story's strong. And they were smart to come back to it. It's got another life. And you'll see. It's pretty amazing." OLIVIA WILDE TWIRLING IN HER DRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) JAMES FRAIN ON HIS PART IN "TRON LEGACY," SAYING: "I'm kind of Jeff's, like, right-hand man. I'm his sort of his butler, secret police, kind of fool. Sort of jester fool, butler-secret police-guy. Who's bald. Does that help?" GARRETT HEDLUND TALKING TO MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (English) GARRETT HEDLUND ON WORKING ON "TRON LEGACY" WITH "TRON" VETERANS JEFF BRIDGES AND BRUCE BOXLEITNER, SAYING: "I felt very welcomed onto it. Jeff and Bruce were so, so sweet and taking me under their wings on this one. And we had the best of times, and just sitting around and sort of, getting to rap a bit. I mean, it was the journey of a lifetime." WILL FERRELL WALKING THE BLUE CARPET AND TALKING TO MEDIA (SOUNDBITE) (English) WILL FERRELL TALKING NONSENSE AND BEING FUNNY, SAYING: "And then, um. The thing was, that, uh. So, yeah. So I don't know. Right?" JEFF BRIDGES AND OLIVIA WILDE HUGGING ON BLUE CARPET AND PULL WIDE EXTRAS DRESSED IN COSTUMES FROM THE FILM "TRON LEGACY" NEON SIGN
  • Embargoed: 28th December 2010 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Usa, Usa
  • Country: USA
  • Reuters ID: LVA4L0YXYTZMWB9559Y82VRACVP0
  • Story Text: Actors Jeff Bridges and Bruce Boxleitner led the cast and creators of "Tron Legacy" down the blue carpet at the Hollywood premiere of the film.
    Lasers and neon lights created a futuristic atmosphere ahead the star-studded screening on Saturday (December 11, 2010) night.
    Bridges and Boxleitner were joined by their co-stars Michael Sheen, Olivia Wilde, James Frain, and Garrett Hedlund outside of the El Capitan Theatre, where all posed for photos and talked to the media before going inside to watch the final cut of the science fiction action thriller.
    "Tron Legacy" is the sequel to the 1982 film "Tron." It tells the story of a man who is trying to solve the mysterious disappearance of his father two decades prior, a genuis once known as the leading video-game developer in the world. While following a series of clues, he finds himself pulled into a digital world where his father has been trapped for 20 years. The two then embark upon a life-and-death escape across a visually stunning cyber universe.
    Bridges, who portrays the missing father, talked about why he was interested in reprising his role 28 years later.
    "I wanted to play with all that, you know, fancy technology that our industry has to mess with," explained the 61-year-old actor. "In this case it's performance capture technology. You know, I wanted to find out what making movies without cameras was like. Everything is done in post-production with it. It was pretty fascinating."
    Bridges, who won the Oscar for best actor earlier this year (his first) for playing the lead in "Crazy Heart," also shared why he thinks fans have been so anxiously awaiting the follow-up to "Tron."
    "Well, it's that whole, you know, the computer culture was just starting up when we did 'Tron.' There was no internet. Nothing like that, so. I think it's guys who were raised on video games who have a fondness for it."
    Boxleitner, 60, described the setting of the new film.
    "The story reflects in real time where these guys are, and what's happened, you know. But the old Tron world is a, is a darker, more dangerous place now than the grid that he and I trotted for the first time. But, wow, it's exciting.
    For Welsh actor Michael Sheen, landing a part in "Tron Legacy" was dream come true.
    "Mainly just to be part of the 'Tron' world. You know, the first film just changed my life, really. And I was 12 when I watched it, and I was just a perfect age, and just ready to be completely blown away by a film. And so this was that film for me. So, when I got called up and said that they wanted me to be in this one, it was like that little 12-year-old inside going, 'Yeess!' And I haven't stopped screaming since."
    Actress Olivia Wilde said one of the primary reasons she pursued a role in the film was to have an opportunity to work with Bridges.
    "Well, you know, I've wanted to work with Jeff my whole career," said Wilde, 26. "He's an idol of mine, and now he's a friend. And, being able to work alongside him every day for four months was incredible. It was a dream come true. I learned so much. And Garrett and I have been friends since we were teenagers, and it was just such a blast. So, I mean, what an experience. What an honor."
    British actor James Frain explained why the original film, "Tron," did not achieve better box office success.
    "It didn't cross over the way that it should have," explained 41-year-old Frain. "It didn't connect with people the way that 'Star Wars' did. And, it deserves to. The ideas are so good. The images are so good. The story's strong. And they were smart to come back to it. It's got another life. And you'll see. It's pretty amazing."
    Funnyman Will Ferrell got some laughs from reporters on his way into the screening.
    "And then, um. The thing was, that, uh. So, yeah. So I don't know. Right?"
    The French electronic music duo Daft Punk scored the film.
    "Tron Legacy" will be released in theatres across North America on Friday, December 17, 2010.
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