Greta Lee’s career is a masterclass in versatility, hasn’t it? From that nuanced, heart-wrenching performance in the Oscar-nominated Past Lives to her comedic brilliance in Russian Doll, she’s proven she can do it all. But with Tron: Ares, the third installment in Disney’s visually stunning sci-fi saga, Lee is boldly stepping into uncharted territory: a visual effects-heavy blockbuster that demands serious emotional depth and technical finesse.
As Eve Kim, the visionary CEO of ENCOM and a brilliant programmer obsessed with cracking the elusive “Permanence Code,” Lee is the film’s emotional anchor, all while navigating the wild spectacle of the digital frontier. Talk about pressure!
Preparing for a role of this magnitude? It was no walk in the park, fam. In a recent interview, Lee revealed that she leaned on the wisdom of some heavy-hitters in the industry — including Academy Award winner Brie Larson and The Acolyte showrunner Leslye Headland. These women brought their unique superpowers to the table, offering Lee invaluable guidance on how to adapt her craft to the insane technical demands of a film like Tron: Ares.
Larson, who’s no stranger to the CGI-fueled universes of Marvel’s Captain Marvel and other blockbusters, shared some insider secrets about thriving in CGI-heavy environments. Lee described their conversation as “life-changing,” explaining how Larson demystified the physical and mental gymnastics required when you’re acting against a sea of green screens, motion capture rigs, and tennis balls on sticks standing in for futuristic robots. Larson’s insights highlighted the importance of staying grounded in imagination and precision, even when your surroundings feel like an abstract painting.
And then there’s Headland’s perspective. As the mastermind behind The Acolyte, that Star Wars series swimming in intricate world-building and visual wizardry, she knows firsthand the delicate balance between character-driven storytelling and the nuts and bolts of visual effects. For Lee, Headland’s advice was a potent reminder that the heart of acting is always about going back to basics — emotional honesty, intention, and unwavering discipline — no matter how massive the canvas. Headland encouraged Lee to tackle Tron: Ares with the same passion she brings to smaller, more intimate projects, proving that acting is acting, even when the tools are totally different.
Lee confessed that she’d never starred in such a VFX-heavy production before, comparing it to a “target practice” where she had mere seconds to nail precise, technical beats against, well, nothingness. But far from being intimidated, she embraced the challenge, calling the whole process “fun” and transformative. She even said that what she learned on Tron: Ares is something she’ll be taking with her into future roles. Werk!
What we see in Lee’s reflections is the portrait of a true artist – someone who isn’t afraid to take risks, experiment, and learn from her peers. With Larson offering practical insights from her Marvel adventures, and Headland anchoring her in fundamental truths honed on Star Wars, Lee has seamlessly bridged her indie roots with blockbuster demands. As Eve Kim in Tron: Ares, she’s not just holding down the narrative; she’s stepping into a whole new phase of her career – one where technical prowess and emotional depth collide.
Tron: Ares premieres in theaters October 10th.
