life:

Talk about ahead of its time: Way back in 1982, the original TRON explored videogaming and virtual reality, introduced cutting-edge visuals…and promptly zoomed right over moviegoers’ heads (it brought in just $33 million at the box office). But now, nearly three decades later, a sequel seems to hit these on-the-grid times just right. Opening December 17, TRON: Legacy promises to deliver the goods to its tech-obsessed audience: eye-popping action sequences set in an impossibly cool, neon-lit world. So, how did that world come together? While reprising his role as Kevin Flynn, the genius game designer trapped in a computer program, star Jeff Bridges captured some of the behind-the-scenes magic. In this gallery, Bridges shares with LIFE three exclusive photos from the set — check those out, plus more images from TRON: Legacy.

New ‘Tron’: Jeff Bridges’ Set Pics