Jeff Bridges brought back his iconic character “The Dude” from The Big Lebowski during an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! Tuesday night. The 75-year-old actor was there to promote Tron: Ares, Disney’s upcoming sci-fi film in which he reprises his role as Kevin Flynn.
A Call for Calm and “Abiding”
Kimmel asked Bridges to share some words of wisdom as The Dude during a time he described as “troubled.” Dressed in a familiar cardigan and sunglasses, Bridges addressed the audience in character: “Hey world, The Dude here. So, uh, yeah, man. Can we just all calm the f*** down? I mean, c’mon. I’m talking about, you know, all the wars, the fighting, the canceling. Let’s just chill out, man.”
He continued, “We’re, like, at what? A nine? We ought to be at zero. Or zero and a half at max.”
A Jab at ICE and a Classic Quote
Bridges drew loud cheers when he quipped, “ICE?? Let’s get ICE off our streets and into our beverages, man,” referring to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids. He ended his message with a nod to his character’s famous line: “This aggression will not stand. So let’s just abide. Abide together.”
Kimmel’s Return After Suspension
The appearance came shortly after Kimmel returned to air on September 23, following a six-day suspension over remarks about slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The incident sparked debates about free speech, with President Donald Trump celebrating the suspension. Kimmel defended his right to speak freely in his comeback monologue.
Tron: Ares Faces Harsh Reviews
While Bridges’ return was warmly received, Tron: Ares hasn’t fared as well. In a one-star review for The Independent, critic Clarisse Loughrey called it “the worst film of the year and a new low for Disney,” describing it as “an ethically dubious, horribly written nadir in franchise slop.”
Tron: Ares hits theaters October 10.
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