Tesla’s Optimus robot steals spotlight at 'Tron: Ares' premiere with kung fu antics | Watch

Disney’s ‘Tron: Ares’ may be one of the most anticipated films of 2025, but it wasn’t just the sci-fi sequel or its A-list cast that captured attention at its world premiere. Held at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles on Monday, 6 October, the event saw Tesla’s futuristic Optimus humanoid robots steal the limelight — even playfully “trying to start a fight” on the red carpet.

The premiere showcased the Tron: Ares ensemble cast, including Jared Leto, Greta Lee, Evan Peters and Jeff Bridges, who were joined by Tesla’s sleek humanoid robots.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk couldn’t contain his excitement and posted on X about the robot’s Los Angeles outing. “Optimus at the Tron premiere!” the billionaire wrote, re-sharing Disney’s post that featured the robots at the event.

Optimus

at the Tron Premiere! https://t.co/EdFvu0C9SJ

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 7, 2025

Tesla’s official X account for Optimus humorously tweeted, “Tried to start a fight at the Tron: Ares premiere.” The account is dedicated to the “general purpose, bipedal humanoid capable of performing tasks that are unsafe, repetitive or boring.”

A video from the premiere captured a viral moment in which Optimus appeared to face off playfully with Jared Leto in a mock kung fu stance on the red carpet. The clip quickly went viral on social media, amassing millions of views within hours.

Tried to start a fight at the Tron: Ares premiere pic.twitter.com/TvWCOaXIlN

— Tesla Optimus (@Tesla_Optimus) October 7, 2025

Meanwhile, the official XBusiness account celebrated the partnership between leading technology and entertainment giants. In a blog post shared online, it announced that “@xAI, @WaltDisneyCo and @Tesla today announced interactive AI-driven experiences in person and on X to celebrate the world premiere of TRON: ARES. By integrating xAI’s advanced AI technology and X’s real-time platform with Disney’s iconic Tron universe, this partnership will immerse red carpet attendees and fans in the neon-lit digital realm of this groundbreaking franchise.”

Tesla’s Optimus humanoid robot on the day of a premiere for the film 'Tron: Ares', in Los Angeles, California. (Reuters photo)

Earlier, Musk had shared a short video showing Optimus practising kung fu alongside a human trainer. Posting the clip on X, he wrote, “Tesla Optimus learning kung fu.” The robot flawlessly mirrored the trainer’s movements, performing accurate blocks, shifting stances, maintaining perfect balance and responding to real-time feedback throughout the session.

Tesla Optimus learning Kung Fu pic.twitter.com/ziEuiiKWn7

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 4, 2025

The upcoming sci-fi action film promises a thrilling experience with its dark, apocalyptic tone and stunning visuals, focusing on a storyline centred around a human–AI confrontation in the real world. With its star-studded cast, including Jared Leto and Evan Peters, Tron: Ares is set to redefine the franchise.