So we've just attended the San Diego Comic-Con press conference for
TRON: Legacy.
A few things are clear: Jeff Bridges is still The Dude, Olivia Wilde is smoking hot and sci-fi geeks have every right to be pitching their pants over this movie.
Attending the press conference (which ran before the big panel presentation in Hall H) were the film's stars Jeff Bridges, Olivia Wilde, Garrett Hedlund and Bruce Boxleitner (who will reprise the roles of Alan Bradley and Tron, which he originated in the 1982 film).
Also present were producers Sean Bailey, Jeffrey Silver and Steven Lisberger, as well as the film's director Joseph Kosinski and original writer Steven Lisberger.
The discussion centred largely on the mind-boggling production design of the film. Apparently director Kosinski put together a team of designers who didn't necessarily have a film background - the production team was made up of a motley crew of architects and automotive designers, "We had to make it absolutely real, like you had been pulled into a computer", explained Kosinski. "(We had to have a variety of designers) to make the film more visceral.
It was also interesting to hear how heavily DAFT PUNK has been involved with the production process. Kosinski explained that he met with DAFT PUNK early in the film-making process.
"We hooked up at 101 Cafe in Hollywood for a pancake breakfast", he recalls.
"They're so passionate about TRON - anyone who has seen their live shows understands that. So we actually started doing the music well before we started shooting. They've been working on it for about two years now. They're still in the studio working on it as we speak."
"I think it's going to be an amazing fusion. It's part electronic, part orchestral. It's so tied to the film, and it blurs the line between sound design and music."
Olivia Wilde continued to state that the duo's music actually helped her on set.
"They were truly integral to the process of making the movie," she said. "We'd listen to some of the music they'd created on set before shooting a scene. It really got you into the right frame of mind".
The cast also spoke about the thrill of wearing the high-tech TRON costumes.
British actor Michal Sheen (who was one of the most entertaining people at the conference - apparently he's a massive fanboy and has been chomping at the bit to attend a Comic-Con) said that the first time they had to shoot with the costumes was one of the most exciting times on set. "Before each take Joe would say "now light them up ... and ACTION" and the whole room would go 'BING'. It was amazing - to the point where you almost forgot to act.
Garrett Hedlund, who plays young Sam Flynn, said one of his finest moments on set was lighting his suit up for the producer's kids.
At this point Jeff Bridges reflected on the process of making the first TRON film. "God. It was different back then", he muttered. "All we had was spandex tights and some magic marker".
IMAGES FROM THE PRESS CONFERENCE WILL BE POSTED ABOVE THIS STORY SHORTLY.
And here's the ever wonderful Jeff Bridges talking about the excitement of returning to the TRON world: