Production
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Development
In the late 1990s, there was speculation that Disney would make a sequel film, due to the original film's cult following. On July 29, 1999, ZDnet News reported that a Tron sequel or remake was being considered by Pixar.
In 2002, Disney released an official sequel to the original film in the form of the video game Tron 2.0, leading to increased speculation over a pending film sequel. At the time of the games release, Lisberger suggested that any film sequel would have meet the challenge of existing as a sequel to the video game.
Throughout the next several years, many unfounded rumors that a Tron sequel was in production or being developed were reported by various news websites.
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On January 13, 2005, Variety reported that Disney had hired Brian Klugman and Lee Sternthal to write a sequel to Tron.
Original sequel logo, from the test footage premiered at Comic-Con 2008.
At the 2008 San Diego Comic-Con, a preliminary teaser trailer (labeled as TR2N and directed by Joseph Kosinski) was shown as a surprise to convention guests. It depicted a yellow Program engaged in a light cycle battle with a blue Program, and it prominently featured Jeff Bridges reprising his role as an aged Kevin Flynn (from the first film). At the end of the trailer, the yellow Program showed his face, which appeared identical to Flynn's earlier program Clu (resembling the younger Flynn in Tron).
While the trailer did not confirm that a Tron sequel was in production, it showed that Disney was serious about a sequel. In an interview with Sci-Fi Wire, Bridges revealed that the test footage was not likely to appear in the finished movie.
On July 23, 2009, Disney revealed the current title at their Comic-Con 3D panel. Jeff Bridges explains that the title is in reference to the story's theme: "It's basically a story about a son's search for his father." They also showed a trailer similar to the one shown at Comic-Con 2008, with updated visuals. At the time, the film just wrapped production and they had a year of post production ahead of them. Because none of the footage from inside the computer world was finished, they premiered concept images from the production. Art included the recognizer, which has been updated from the original film. Concept photos were also shown of Disc Wars, which has also been revised from the original film into a 16-game tournament. The arena is set-up so that the game court organically changes, and all 16 games are going on at the same time. The boards also combine in real time until the last two Disc warriors are connected.
Light cycles make a return, with new designs by Daniel Simon.According to the press conference at Comic-Con 2009, a new vehicle appears called a "Light Runner," a two-seat version of the light cycle. It is said to be very fast, and has the unique ability to go off The Grid on its own power. We also get a glimpse at Kevin Flynn's own cycle, a "Second Generation Light Cycle" designed in 1989 by Flynn and is "still the fastest thing on The Grid." It incorporates some of the look of both films.The movie also features theatrical 7.1 surround sound.
Light cycle model on display at Fan Expo 2009 Disney booth
A life-size model of the light cycle was put on display at a booth at Fan Expo 2009 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada from August 28–30, 2009, along with a special presentation of material from the production. The conceptual art shown at Comic-Con was shown in the session, along with some test film of the martial artists who play a more athletic style of Disc Wars. A segment from the movie showed Flynn's son entering the now-decrepit arcade, playing a Tron stand-up arcade video game, noticing a passage in the wall behind the Tron game and entering it, the passage closing behind him. Flynn's son makes the visit to the arcade after Alan Bradley receives a page from the disconnected phone number of the arcade. The footage was used later as part of the trailer released on March 5, 2010.
The original character of Yori does not appear in the sequel; nor does her user, Dr. Lora Baines, even though the film refers to Alan Bradley being married to Lora. According to online media Sci Fi Wire: "Fans have been lobbying for actress Cindy Morgan to be in the movie." There are active campaigns online, such as "Yori Lives" on Facebook, which is independent of Morgan herself. "All I know is what I'm seeing online," Morgan said. "I am so thrilled and touched and excited about the fan reaction and about people talking about the first one and how it relates to the second one. I can't tell you how warm a feeling I get from that. It just means so much." No one from Tron: Legacy had contacted Morgan, and she did not directly speak with anyone from the Joseph Kosinski-directed sequel.As Dr. Lora Baines, Cindy Morgan had appeared with Bruce Boxleitner (as Alan Bradley) at the Encom Press Conference in San Francisco, April 2, 2010.
Writing
Bridges brought on board Bernie Glassman, a Zen Buddhist, to consult on the story and add spiritual subtext. The film's director and producers met with science consultants provided by the Science & Entertainment Exchange to create a "strong science foundation at key moments in the film."
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Filming
Filming began in Vancouver, British Columbia in April 2009. Stage shooting for the film took place at the Canadian Motion Picture Park studio in south Burnaby. Most of the film was filmed in 3D, as was the teaser. The film's beginning portions were shot in 2D.40 minutes of the film were vertically enhanced for IMAX. Digital Domain was contracted to work on the visual effects.
In April 2009, pictures were leaked onto the Internet showing actors in blue skintight suits. The design of the suits is reminiscent of the outfits worn by the actors in the original film. Director Kosinski also revealed that the faces of the younger Flynn, as well as Clu 2, were created entirely in CG.
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In some sequences the image shows a fine mesh pattern and some blurring. That is not interference or a production fault, but indicates that that sequence is a flashback and to simulate an older form of video representation technology.
Stunt work on the film was designed and coordinated by 87eleven. Olivia Wilde described it as an honor to train with them. 87eleven also designed and trained fight sequences for 300 and Watchmen.
Music
Electronic music duo Daft Punk composed the film score.At the time of the 2009 Comic-Con, it was revealed they composed 24 tracks for the film.When Kosinski was asked why he decided to have Daft Punk do the film score, he replied, "How could you not at least go to those guys?"Kosinski referred to the score as being a mixture of orchestral and electronic elements.[46] Olivia Wilde stated that the duo may be involved with future promotional events.A teaser trailer features Daft Punk and their track "Derezzed" from the soundtrack.The film score features an 85-piece orchestra, recorded at AIR Lyndhurst Studios in London.A soundtrack album of the film was released on December 6, 2010. A deluxe edition of the album was also released that includes a poster of Daft Punk from the film. The songs "Separate Ways" by Journey and "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)" by Eurythmics are also featured in the film. Daft Punk's score was arranged and orchestrated by Joseph Trapanese. Jason Bentley served as the film's music supervisor.
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Sound effects
Crowd effects for the gaming arena were recorded at the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con International. During one of the Tron: Legacy panels, the crowd was given instruction via a large video screen while techs from Skywalker Sound recorded the performance. The audience performed chants and stomping effects similar to what is heard in modern sports arenas.
