Korean American actress Greta Lee is making history as the first Korean actor to lead a 'Tron' film, starring in Disney's highly anticipated $150 million sequel 'Tron: Ares' alongside Jared Leto. At a press event held at CGV Yongsan in Seoul on Monday, Lee expressed her amazement at launching the global press tour in Korea, calling the opportunity "unbelievable."
"I can't believe I'm here promoting a movie like this," Lee told reporters, still processing her remarkable journey from indie darling to franchise star. "For a Hollywood movie to have a Korean protagonist for the first time, possibly, it's unbelievable." The 'Past Lives' star has vaulted into blockbuster territory after decades of memorable supporting roles and scene-stealing performances in acclaimed projects like 'Russian Doll' and 'The Morning Show.'
In 'Tron: Ares,' Lee plays Eve Kim, a programmer who teams up with Jared Leto's AI-powered humanoid character. This marks the first time a Korean actor has anchored a 'Tron' film since the franchise launched in 1982. However, Lee seemed equally enthusiastic about discussing her physical preparation and motorcycle stunts as she was about making cinematic history.
The demanding role required extensive physical training and stunts, a significant departure from Lee's previous work. "The director and I didn't realize how much running I'd have to do," she said, laughing about the challenging six-week nighttime shooting schedule. The grueling production had her racing through Vancouver streets until 1 a.m., then catching a flight to the Oscars the next morning. "Olympic athletes don't have to do 20 takes running like their life depended on it," she joked.
The physical demands of 'Tron: Ares' represented a deliberate shift from Lee's acclaimed performance in the quiet, contemplative 'Past Lives.' While Celine Song's romantic drama focused on stolen glances and unspoken longing, 'Ares' throws Lee into high-octane motorcycle chases and intense lightcycle battles. "After something so intimate and naturalistic, it felt good to do something this physical," Lee explained.
Director Joachim Ronning, known for 'Maleficent: Mistress of Evil,' couldn't have chosen a more timely moment for his artificial intelligence invasion story. In an era where tech giants regularly warn about AI's potential threat to humanity and news cycles frequently feature stories about chatbots behaving unpredictably, the film's premise strikes an uncomfortable chord with reality. The story centers on a superintelligent AI that breaks into our world through an expendable synthetic body.
Lee acknowledged the film's contemporary relevance, noting how AI has become part of daily life for most people. "AI is something we're all dealing with daily now," she observed. "Not every movie gets to be this connected to the here and now – both the good and potentially the bad." This connection between the film's themes and current technological developments adds an extra layer of significance to the project.
When asked about the weight of representation as a Korean American actor leading a major Hollywood blockbuster, Lee emphasized her focus on universal human connection over demographic considerations. "I try to think about the humanity and the person before anything else," she explained. "Before being Korean, Korean American, or a woman – I'm thinking about the human being I'm trying to connect the audience to."
The global success and recognition of Korean culture in recent years has provided additional validation for Lee's achievement. "It's something we as Koreans have known all along," she said, reflecting on the worldwide embrace of Korean entertainment and culture. "In a lot of ways it feels like this is just the beginning – the world doesn't even know what else is coming."
'Tron: Ares' is scheduled to open in local theaters on October 8, marking a significant milestone for both the franchise and Korean representation in major Hollywood productions.
