Jared Leto Was Doubled Over Laughing With Jeff Bridges, 74, On Set of New ‘Tron’ Film– Beating Cancer, Making Art, Loving Life

Jeff Bridges' Cancer Battle

• Jeff Bridges, 74, has been commended as “just the best” from his co-star Jared Leto, 52, more than a year before the upcoming release of the science-fiction film “Tron: Ares.”
• Bridges, who is known for his iconic role as Jeff “The Dude” Lebowski in the 1998 comedy thriller “The Big Lebowski,” faced a lymphoma diagnosis in 2020 — and about a year later, in September 2021, was declared in remission.
• Bridges had chemotherapy to treat his disease. Other lymphoma treatments include active surveillance, radiation, and bone marrow transplant.
• The two main types of lymphoma are Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is more common, and you’re more likely to be diagnosed with it after age 55. People usually develop Hodgkin lymphoma at a younger age.

"30 Seconds To Mars" singer and "Dallas Buyers Club" star Jared Leto, 52, has praised his co-star Jeff Bridges, 74, as "just the best" ahead of the 2025 release of the science-fiction film "Tron: Ares." Speaking on a recent episode of the " Smartless " podcast, hosted by Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, & Will Arnett, Jared Leto recounted not being able to stop smiling when working alongside Bridges, a survivor of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Leto, who will be acting as a character named "Ares" alongside Bridges, said, "One of the highlights was working with Jeff Bridges. Oh god, he’s just the best. "I had one take where I had to literally say cut, and they’re like, 'What’s wrong? Did something?' And I'm like, ‘No, I just can’t stop f**king smiling.'" Following Bateman's response of "I love that guy," Leto added, "He's everything." "You know, it's a money back guarantee ...That motherf***er gives you everything you ever wanted," he added. The movie "Tron: Ares," which is set for release in theaters on Oct. 10, 2025,  The synopsis for the upcoming film reads, "A highly sophisticated Program, Ares, is sent from the digital world into the real world on a dangerous mission, marking humankind’s first encounter with A.I. beings." Meanwhile, the recent podcast interview comes after Bridges took to Instagram to share a promo from the film, highlighting rock group Nine Inch Nails' involvement in the project. "You’re going to get what you deserve 10.10.25," Bridges wrote alongside the post, referencing one of the rock band’s top hits, 1989’s Head Like a Hole. Earlier this year, Bridges spoke on Film Comment podcast (via The Playlist) about his return to "Tron," saying, "I’m heading off this Saturday to play a part in the third installment of the 'Tron' story. "Jared Leto is the star of this third one. I’m really anxious to work with him. I’ve admired his work." However, according to Variety who spoke with a representative for Bridges, the podcast episode, which was released in April of this year, was recorded "a while ago." The rep said Bridges had already finished filming for the new film.

Jeff Bridges' Cancer Battle

Jeff Bridges was diagnosed with lymphoma in 2020 and started chemotherapy treatment right away. Although Bridges hasn’t personally specified which type of lymphoma he was diagnosed with, AARP noted that his cancer was, in fact, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, cancer of a type of white blood cells called lymphocytes, which are part of the immune system. It's also interesting to note there are more than 40 different types of lymphoma. While cancer treatment was going well, he was also diagnosed with COVID-19 in January 2021, and due to his cancer treatment having weakened his immune system, Bridges wound up spending months in the hospital. According to AARP, Bridges’ cancer went into remission quickly after he was put through chemotherapy infusion, which was followed by an oral chemo protocol.

He dubbed his wife his “absolute champion” as she stayed by Bridges’ side as he recovered from covid in the hospital. “She really fought to keep me off a ventilator. I didn’t want to be on it, and the doctors didn’t necessarily want that. But Sue was adamant,” he told the news outlet. He was ultimately treated with a blood plasma called “convalescent plasma,” which consists of viral antibodies.

Expert Resources On Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

• All About Biopsies to Diagnose Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
• Bispecific Antibodies Deliver One-Two Punch to Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
• Could Weed Killer or Radiation Exposure Increase Your Risk for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma?
• Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: It’s More Than Just One Type
• CAR T-Cell Therapy for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
• Could New Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Drugs Mean Less Chemo in the Future?
• All About Follicular Lymphoma: A Common Type of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Despite his struggle, like so many cancer survivors, Bridges was left with a renewed appreciation for life after the experience. “I’ll be honest. I didn’t know if I was going to make it,” he told Esquire in an earlier interview. “I was on death’s door there for a while in the hospital. When I finally went back to work, after a two-year hiatus, it was the most bizarre kind of thing. It felt like a dream.” “I came back after all that time, and saw the same faces [while shooting ‘The Old Man’], the same cast and crew,” he added. “It was like we had a long weekend. I gathered everyone and I said, ‘I had the most bizarre dream, you guys.’ I was sick and out, but all that feels like a gray mush now.” Sneaky Lymphoma Symptoms Often Lead to a Late Diagnosis When it comes to understanding lymphoma, Dr. Elise Chong , a medical oncologist at Penn Medicine, previously told SurvivorNet, "Lymphoma is split up into a number of different categories. "The first distinguishing breakpoint, if you will, is non-Hodgkin lymphoma versus Hodgkin lymphoma ... and those sound like two different categories. But non-Hodgkin lymphoma comprises the majority of lymphoma, and Hodgkin lymphoma is a single specific type of lymphoma.” Hodgkin lymphoma has distinctive, giant cells called Reed-Sternberg cells. The presence of these cells, which can be seen under a microscope, will help your doctor determine which of the two lymphoma types you have. There are a few other important differences between non-Hodgkin lymphoma and Hodgkin lymphoma to note. For one thing, non-Hodgkin lymphoma is much more common. And you’re more likely to be diagnosed with it after age 55, like Bridges. People usually develop Hodgkin lymphoma at a younger age. Another difference between these two types of lymphoma is that non-Hodgkin lymphoma is more likely to spread in a random fashion and be found in different groups of lymph nodes in the body, while Hodgkin lymphoma is more likely to grow in a uniform way from one group of lymph nodes directly to another. These two different types of lymphoma behave, spread and respond to treatment differently.

Reaching Milestones After Your Cancer Journey

For cancer warriors, reaching milestones is a big deal. After battling non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Jeff Bridges impressed his fans by continuing to do what he loves—act. Bridges, who has been in remission for the past three years, has been working on the third "Tron" franchise installment called "Tron: Ares," and it's great to see his positivity and good spirits are exuded during filming. RELATED: Cancer Survivor Jeff Bridges, Who is Set to Star in New Film, Honors Movies He’s Starred in That ‘Transcend’ Expectations According to Cancer.net, patients and their support groups filled with loved ones may engage in some activities to help recognize and celebrate memorable milestones. These activities include planning a nice dinner or party-like gathering and spending time donating money or volunteering to a cancer charity. Perhaps the way you memorialize your cancer milestone could be independent of others. Examples include a solitary walk in nature and allowing your senses to take hold while you reflect.

Post Treatment, When a New Stage of Your Journey Begins

After a cancer warrior has made it through treatment and scans reveal no evidence of disease, it’s safe to say remission has been reached, as Jeff Bridges did just one year after his diagnosis. WATCH: Understanding Maintenance Therapy According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), remission is defined as a “decrease in or disappearance of signs and symptoms of cancer.” In general, patients who if patients remain in remission for at least five years are considered to have “no signs of cancer” or “no evidence of disease.” Physicians often avoid saying someone is “cured” of cancer because some cancer cells can remain in the body and could return years down the road (also called recurrence). While in remission, cancer survivors need to follow guidance from their care team. The types of follow-up may include undergoing regular scans every few months and taking maintenance therapy, which helps slow disease progression and extends the remission period. Dr. Sagar Lonial , Chief Medical Officer at the Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University previously explained to SurvivorNet, "The premise of maintenance therapy is that we know there may be a low-level disease that’s still there, either at or below the level of detection with formal testing, and we want to use less intense therapy to try and keep it at bay or further reduce the burden even more." It’s not uncommon for cancer survivors to experience heightened levels of anxiety after cancer. This notably appears while receiving regular scans to ensure the cancer has not returned. This type of anxiety (also called scanxiety) is normal, and some helpful tips exist to help deal with it. “The way that I define anxiety is that it’s an internal question that we simply can’t find the answers to,” Dr. Marianna Strongin , a clinical psychologist and founder of Strong In Therapy, previously told SurvivorNet. Living in the Moment: What Survivor Lauren Chiarello Learned During Her Cancer Journey Survivors are encouraged to be open with their feelings, not just to themselves but to people they trust. They are also advised to find an activity they love and can become so immersed in that they forget about anxieties associated with cancer. Psychiatrist Dr. Samantha Boardman suggests that survivors draw four columns on a sheet of paper. Then, they are asked to write down what they know, what they don’t know, and what they can and cannot control. “It’s a helpful way to dial down their anxiety. It involves trying to move as many items as possible into what they do know and what they can control,” Dr. Boardman said.

Advice For Starting Over After Cancer

Starting over after a life-changing event, like battling a disease such as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, can certainly be a difficult task. But it is possible. Here are simple tips for how to do it:

• Examine your thoughts. Take time to reflect on the tragedy or difficulty you are facing. Dr. Scott Irwin tells SurvivorNet that, often, people with cancer and chronic disease are “grieving the change in their life, the future they had imagined is now different.”
• Seek help. Irwin, who directs Supportive Care Services at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, adds that talk therapy can help people significantly:  “It’s about meeting the individual patient where they are and their feelings, how they’ve always dealt with their body image, what the body image changes mean now in their lives and their relationships, and how they can move forward given the new reality.
• Realize that you are not the first. Study the lives of other people who have faced similar difficulties. Psychiatrist Dr. Samantha Boardman previously told SurvivorNet, “Having support we know is really critical in the healing process.” There is benefit in “talking to those who’ve, you know, been through this process, who are maybe a couple of steps ahead of you, who can tell you what it’s like to walk in their shoes and the unbelievable wisdom that one can gain from speaking to them,” she said.
• Visualize the future. Imagine what it will look like for you to start over.  Many people find it very helpful to create a vision board. Cut out pictures or quotes or mementos that give you a concrete picture of your future. Look to it when you are feeling down or in need of a lift.

Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff