Tron Creator Returns
After writer / director Steve Lisberger made the 1982 cult classic "Tron," he seemingly disappeared. He directed two other movies - the 1987 John Cusack comedy "Hot Pursuit" and the 1989 science fiction flick "Slipstream" starring Mark Hamill - but neither film achieved the kind of popularity or staying power of "Tron" (for more on the legacy of that film, read "Tron's World" on Tom's Games). Lisberger wrote a number of screenplays that ultimately didn't get made, but he didn't try to have a lengthy filmmaking career. With "Tron," Lisberger said what he wanted to say, it got out into the world, and it developed a major cult following. Ultimately that was satisfying enough. Really, what else could a filmmaker ask for?
But after nearly two decades since his last film, Lisberger is back with a new project: "Soul Code." Details about the script are scant, but the science fiction story deals with two female characters - one older, and one younger - and the discovery of technology that can download people's memories. The idea was partly inspired by IGN Weekly hostess Jessica Chobot, who is reportedly a huge "Tron" fan. In addition, Lisberger also got a hand from maverick Hollywood producer Thom Mount, who was the former president of Universal Studios and oversaw such films as "Scarface," and "National Lampoon's Animal House" and later produced movies including "Bull Durham" and "Natural Born Killers." So why did Lisberger decide to come back? How did the new project get started? And what about a possible "Tron" sequel? Tom's Games talks with Lisberger and Mount to get the lowdown.
David Konow: How long has Soul Code been in the works?
STEVE LISBERGER: It's been in the works for over a year.
David Konow: When did you get the itch to make movies again?
STEVE LISBERGER: I started doing some artistic work on my own. I spent quite some time just working on art projects and it sort of - how do I put this so it doesn't sound like a cliché - it sort of re-centered me. I also met Jessica Chobot, and it was very interesting to encounter a young woman who was so committed to technology, videogames and techie cinema. We sort of started our own little film club, we looked at all these movies, and I guess when the enthusiasm is there, all of a sudden I had this moment of clarity where I saw how this story could come together.
It was particularly interesting to me because it involves a younger and an older woman in the world of technology. I sort of have that combination in my own life because of my wife and because of Jess. Since I hadn't worked on a script in a while, it was just very liberating to have it as a pet project, and Jess was a big part of why it happened. She was good to work with, and she didn't have to second-guess the movie audience.
So many people in Hollywood, I'm not even sure what they like; I just know they like high grosses. But there's a second guessing process of, "This is what the audience likes...I think...I hope..." When Jess and I talked it was genuine enthusiasm in terms of what we wanted to see. I didn't really approach it like a usual Hollywood deal; I just let it find its own path. It grew organically almost from the beginning, and it found its way to (producer) Thom Mount in a sort of organic way too. So that's pretty much the genesis of the story.
Steve Lisberger in a production photo from "Tron," the 1982 cult classic.
David Konow: What do you think appealed to Thom about the project.?
STEVE LISBERGER: What's interesting is I've known Thom since before I made "Tron". There was the infamous famous summer of '82 with E.T. and "Tron" out there, so he knew "Tron" and me from the other side. (Editor's note: Thom Mount was the president of Universal during the summer that E.T. became the biggest hit in cinema history). I think what we share is, he has a streak of rebel in him that won't go away. This is a guy that used to eat lunch with John Belushi in "Animal House" days, so you gotta love that. But then again, he's still very much trying to define the future. So those are two things that I relate to. In some ways, now that he's an independent producer, I actually think he was drawn to the edginess of the material.
David Konow: Will this movie pick up where "Tron" left off?
STEVE LISBERGER: I'm not sure any movie can really pick up where "Tron" left off, because I think "Tron" left off at the end of the road. I think there are things in "Soul Code" that share some continuity with the special effects, or how I feel about visuals in terms of what they mean. So there is continuity in that sense. But that comes more from my personal point of view than it does come from "Tron."
The story is futuristic, but it actually deals more with human relationships and how they're stretched to the breaking point by future technology. I believe we're rapidly approaching the point where we have to decide whether we're going to use all the technology available to us, even if it's possibly true that we're not ready, or able, to handle the power of some of this technology. It deals with how humans are still going to need from humans what they can't get from technology.
Join our discussion on this topic
