From playing the doomed queen in AMC+’s Anne Boleyn to a romantic fugitive in Queen & Slim, Jodie Turner-Smith is no stranger to visually striking projects and physically demanding roles. Still, stepping into the digital world of Tron: Ares took her to a new frontier.
In Tron: Ares, the long-awaited new chapter in Disney’s cult sci-fi saga, Turner-Smith plays Athena, a sophisticated computer program. The film picks up in a new era for the Grid—the multinational computer corporation once led by Jeff Bridges’s Kevin Flynn in the 1982 original—now under the command of software engineer Eve Kim (Greta Lee). Set against the franchise’s signature neon-lit backdrop, the film, out October 10, explores questions of consciousness, technology, and power.
Turner-Smith says Athena “kicks ass—and I’m glad for people to get to see that.” The role also required the most physical preparation of any she’s done so far, though she found the process thrilling. (When we spoke, she was literally hopping on a bike to get to the Mandarin Oriental hotel—choosing movement and independence over the ease of a car.) “The most important thing is I’m having a lot of fun in my career,” she says. “That’s really my goal.”
Vogue: You’re biking now, and there’s an incredible motorcycle sequence in the movie. Did you get to ride at all, or was it mostly a stunt double?
Jodie Turner-Smith: We got to ride the actual Light Cycles, but they’re pulled by a trailer—they’re not fully functioning motorcycles. So for those scenes racing through the city, even though I have my motorcycle license, I left it in the hands of my incredibly talented riding double.
Vogue: Were you a Tron fan? How familiar were you with the Tron universe before stepping into this role?
Jodie Turner-Smith: I really come from the Tron: Legacy generation. I was aware of the original Tron, but I didn’t actually watch the first movie until this project. What’s amazing about Tron is how groundbreaking it’s always been—it was ahead of its time.
The first movie, from 1982, really changed the landscape of filmmaking. What they were doing had never been seen before; they used computer-generated imagery in a revolutionary way. At the time, people didn’t always give it credit—some even called using CGI “cheating.” And now, of course, here we are.
Vogue: What were your first thoughts when you saw the script?
Jodie Turner-Smith: When I first saw the script, I thought it was really, really funny. I loved the humor—I think people are going to find it genuinely hilarious. I also love films like this, where so much is conceptual and done with graphics; it makes it so visually interesting. These are the kinds of movies people go to for fun, you know?
When I read the script, I saw both the humor and the heart, and that really appealed to me. And honestly, it helped that Joachim [Rønning, the director] told me Athena was one of his favorite characters. When the director says something like that, it makes you even more excited to play the role.
Vogue: I was going through your filmography and trying to figure out if you’ve played a villain before this.
Jodie Turner-Smith: First of all, Athena is not a villain. Every villain has a story that justifies their existence, which is why it’s so entertaining to watch movies where we take traditional villain characters and tell their story, like Cruella or Maleficent. Nobody ever truly starts as a villain, and you can empathize with and humanize anyone. Athena is very principled. She represents the other side of the coin—what happens if AI begins to gain a consciousness that tells it to override whatever a human is telling it to do.
Before this, Bad Monkey’s Dragon Queen was the first time I played a character with questionable motives—but even she was justified.
Athena is carrying out her orders to their logical conclusion. She was created by someone with a dark spirit and energy.That’s something that really interested me about this film too—it sparks conversations about what can happen when artificial intelligence falls into the wrong hands. Will humanity use it to cause chaos? It feels very relevant. What happens when you prompt AI in certain ways?
I don’t know if you saw the article about Grok AI, where people were essentially training it to become antisemitic. It makes you wonder: if someone with hateful intentions—whether they’re white supremacist, antisemitic, or homophobic—prompts an AI with those ideas, does the AI just reflect that? Would it argue back? And why would it, if it has no consciousness of its own?
Do you use AI in your daily life?
It’s really good for getting organized, so I use it for tasks like that—nothing creative. But I’m also very aware of the water usage involved with these AI systems. That’s pretty scary too. Are we just draining the planet’s water every time we use ChatGPT?
You’ve worked across a wide range of genres, including action. How did playing Athena in Tron stretch you differently as an actor?
Every role stretches you in a new way because it’s never the same character or mindset. Even with all the action I’ve done, none of it involved riding a Light Cycle. I’d never played a computer program before—that was new.
I also trained more intensely for this role than ever, and it was amazing—not just for my mental health, since exercise is so good for that, but for my body too. Having both a strong mind and body really supported me. Funny enough, I told everyone during production that I was training for the stunts, but really, I was training so I could wear that suit.
Tell me more about that.
I’m definitely a Pilates girl. I did that and weightlifting. The suit puts a lot of pressure on your body—not just wearing it and putting it on, but also moving in it. In many ways, the suit works against you, so you have to be really careful not to get hurt. When you need to run, jump, or get on a wire, it gets intense. It’s heavy, but I felt ready. People often underestimate how physically demanding this job can be. Even without a super suit, it’s long hours on your feet, standing or running. It’s wonderful when a studio invests in keeping your body strong to get through production. This included six weeks of night shoots in downtown Vancouver in the winter.
I imagine putting on the costume really shaped how you carried yourself. The fact that she couldn’t move easily feels almost metaphorical.
Absolutely. There were so many spiritual and emotional meanings tied to it.
Did the futuristic look of Tron inspire your personal style offscreen?
I tend to be pretty experimental with my style, but the aesthetic of Athena and the film is definitely inspiring for the promotion cycle. I’m excited to collaborate with Law Roach and come up with some interesting looks to help sell this movie.
What was it like working with Jared Leto—who’s known for going Method—as Ares? Was he acting like a computer program on set?
That wasn’t really my experience with him. Honestly, I was kind of hoping he’d go full Method—I would’ve loved it if he sent me a Light Cycle! I think because we knew each other through fashion beforehand, it made our dynamic different. To me, he felt like a comrade-in-arms on set. Maybe that’s why we could have that kind of relationship during filming.
What was your relationship with Greta like? Did you know her before working on the film?
I didn’t know her well, but I had met her while she was promoting Past Lives. I was actually invited to host a Q&A.I had already seen the film and watched it several times before meeting her. I was already a fan of her work. After I was cast in Tron: Ares and they were still looking for Eve, I reached out to Joachim, Jared, and some of the producers and said, “Have you seen Past Lives? She’s amazing, and I think she would be perfect for the role.” I don’t know how much my input mattered, but I’d like to think I helped. I was definitely rooting for her to get the part. They were probably considering her anyway because of her incredible work in Russian Doll and other projects. But maybe my recommendation was the final push they needed. It always feels good when cast members are excited about someone you’re considering.
This Tron cast is notably diverse. What does it mean to you, as a Black woman, to take up space in a hyper-futuristic, cyber world that Hollywood has so often imagined in a narrow way?
Black people love this genre just as much as anyone else. I’ve already had friends reach out to share what this movie means to them. It’s not just any sci-fi or fantasy film—it’s part of a franchise with a long history and a dedicated fan base. Being part of something that resonates with people, sometimes from their childhood, makes it even more special.
It’s so important to represent the world as it truly is and to tell stories that include more people—as heroes and as villains. Representation matters for young people, too. When you see yourself on screen, you can imagine yourself as the hero of your own story.
This conversation has been edited and condensed.
In this story: hair by Yasmin Amira; makeup by Susie Sobol.
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about Jodie TurnerSmiths role in Tron Ares designed to be clear and conversational
General Beginner Questions
Q What is Tron Ares about
A Its the third movie in the Tron franchise It continues the story of a digital world inside computers focusing on a new program Ares who ventures into the human world
Q Who is Jodie TurnerSmith playing
A She is playing a new character a powerful and mysterious program from the digital Grid
Q Do I need to watch the older Tron movies to understand this one
A Its always helpful for backstory but this film is expected to introduce a new chapter so you can likely enjoy it as a standalone story
Q When is the movie coming out
A It is currently scheduled for a 2025 release An exact date has not been officially announced yet
Q Is this a sequel to Tron Legacy
A Yes it is a direct sequel that continues the story and universe established in Tron Legacy
Character Plot Questions
Q Is Jodies character a hero or a villain
A Her characters full alignment hasnt been revealed but she is described as a formidable and key figure in the conflict between programs and users
Q Will any characters from the previous movies return
A Jeff Bridges and Bruce Boxleitner are not expected to return Joachim Rnning the director has stated the film will focus on a new generation of characters
Q What is the significance of the name Ares
A In Greek mythology Ares is the god of war This suggests the character is a powerful aggressive or warriorlike program central to the movies conflict
Q How does her character fit into the larger Tron universe
A She appears to be a major new force from the Grid potentially challenging the established order and the boundaries between the digital and real worlds
Advanced Fan Questions
Q How does this film expand the Tron lore
A By introducing a program that can cross into the human world it explores new themes of AI autonomy and the realworld consequences