As Disney ramps up manufacturing on the long-gestating Tron 3, aka Tron: Ares — including Dahmer star Evan Peters to the threequel — the godfather of the Tron universe has given the enterprise his blessing.

Stopping by The Hollywood Reporter‘s It Occurred in Hollywood podcast, Steven Lisberger — author/director of 1982’s groundbreaking Tron — says he’s taken on a Jedi Grasp position in advising the following technology of Tron filmmakers, to borrow from one other sci-fi franchise.

“The Tron staff is tough at work,” says Lisberger, 72. “They’re all the time onerous at work. It’s going to occur. My aim with these items in enjoying the Obi-Wan position is to say the one sentence that has an affect. I attempt to say one thing that’s helpful to them with out stepping into the weeds.”

Lisberger recollects in search of out the recommendation of animation elders when embarking on making the unique, technically dizzying movie.

“We shot a storyboard film on Tron 1. Considered one of Disney’s 9 Outdated Males was nonetheless out on the studio,” he recollects. “I used to be so excited to indicate it to him as a result of lord is aware of I might have used a mentor at that time. I confirmed him our storyboard film. He sat there, he watched the entire thing, after which he turned to me and stated, ‘Child — you’re by yourself.’ And bought up and walked out of the room.”

“So I’m making an attempt to maintain my enter right down to sentences however hopefully sentences which might be some use to them,” he provides.

Whereas it at present enjoys cult standing and admiration amongst science-fiction fanatics, futurists and avid gamers alike, the unique Tron debuted to muted reception, taking in $4 million on its opening weekend and occurring to gross $33 million domestically on a $20 million price range.

“Some folks on the studio bought too excited and in contrast it to Star Wars,” says Lisberger. “Star Wars was dripping in nostalgia. Tron was utterly avant garde. It got here out on the improper time.

“It went up towards E.T. It was slightly bit just like the world was headed to E.T. and that was very touchy-feely and we grew to become that laptop movie that didn’t respect the human situation. That was an issue. As time performs out, the importance of the movie continues to rise. Occasionally one thing will get made, it’s too far forward of its time after which it takes years for it to be accepted or discover its legs. That’s what occurred with Tron,” he explains.

Whereas ideas explored by the movie — all the pieces from laptop safety to synthetic intelligence is explored — at the moment are commonplace, it wasn’t so on the time of the movie’s launch.

“Individuals don’t bear in mind how a lot backlash there was to computer systems within the early ’80s,” says Lisberger. “We had been even forward of Steve Jobs at this level. Individuals didn’t know what the web was. The networking that’s within the story of Tron and is recommended within the final scene, that was primarily based on the ARPANET,” he provides, referring to the U.S. military-based web precursor.

Joachim Rønning (Pirates of the Caribbean: Lifeless Males Inform No Tales) is ready to start directing Tron: Ares in Vancouver in August.

For extra on the making of Tron, hearken to the complete episode of It Occurred in Hollywood under and you should definitely comply with the podcast for extra deep dives into Hollywood historical past.