In the world of cinema, few films have sparked as much debate as the original Tron. Despite its groundbreaking achievements, it faced a notorious Oscar snub. Here’s why creator Steven Lisberger remains unbitter about it.
Why the Creator of ‘Tron’ Remains Unbitter Over the Film’s Oscar Snub
With Marvel absent from San Diego Comic-Con, Disney went all out for its Tron: Ares panel, featuring a dazzling light show, eye-popping clips from the movie, and a new Nine Inch Nails music video. The event showcased a star-studded lineup, including Jeff Bridges, Jared Leto, Greta Lee, Gillian Anderson, Evan Peters, Jodie Turner-Smith, Hasan Minhaj, Arturo Castro, and Cameron Monaghan, alongside director Joachim Rønning, and creator-producer Steven Lisberger, who originally wrote and directed Tron, with certified nerd Kevin Smith moderating.
The Lasting Influence of the Original Tron
As Smith noted, the original Tron had an influence that far exceeded its modest box office earnings in 1982, a year dominated by films like E.T., Blade Runner, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Poltergeist, and The Road Warrior. “It was a visionary science-fiction motion picture that wasn’t appreciated in its time,” Smith stated. Indeed, Tron’s groundbreaking use of computer graphics and the concept of the Grid, complete with AI adversaries, would resonate for decades. Tron influenced a range of films from The Matrix to Toy Story.
Oscar Snub: A Blessing in Disguise?
Ares, set to hit theaters on Oct. 10, is poised to contend for Academy Awards in technical categories and for its exhilarating NIN soundtrack. The original Tron garnered Oscar nominations for Best Sound and Best Costume Design, but in one of the most infamous decisions, the Motion Picture Academy disqualified the film from the Best Visual Effects category. “We used computer-generated imagery as an actual environment, which hadn’t been done at that point,” Lisberger explained. “We completed those effects in about seven months, including inventing the techniques. The Academy thought we cheated by using computers.”
Lisberger’s Perspective on the Snub
When asked about the egregious snub by Smith, Lisberger took the high road. “Yeah, that was their line. It’s not so much that Tron was ahead of its time; it’s that everyone else was late,” he remarked.
“We created our own genre with virtual adventure,” he continued. “As far-out as Tron was — and is — it actually became real life. And that’s even more far-out than the film.”
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“My feeling about Tron is that the most important thing is that we explore this technology artistically before it overwhelms us. I’m weary from hearing all the grim news about the future, and the way to avoid that is to inspire young people about what can be achieved with this technology. And that’s what Tron embodies,” Lisberger said, pausing for applause. “The other thing that Tron represents, going back to the beginning, is the courageous acting of Jeff Bridges. He is the most courageous person in front of a camera. He’s been a gift to Tron from day one.”
Bridges’ Tribute to Lisberger
The admiration was mutual. Bridges, who reprises his role as Kevin Flynn, creator of the Grid in Ares, praised his creative partner in his signature style. “Steven! What, ’82? Forty-three years ago? Steven created this wild world that was so much fun to be a part of. These times — artificial intelligence on everybody’s minds. Unbelievable, man.”
“The Grid abides.”
