Tom Cruise’s stunt mentorship played a crucial role in preparing Glen Powell for the demanding physical and mental challenges of filming the new dystopian thriller The Running Man. When Powell was cast as Ben Richards, he immediately sought guidance from his Top Gun: Maverick co-star and mentor, ensuring he approached his own stunt work with the discipline and respect that Cruise demands.
Powell’s Immediate Turn to Tom Cruise for Advice
Glen Powell shared with Entertainment Weekly how reaching out to Cruise became his first instinct after landing the role of Ben Richards in director Edgar Wright’s adaptation of Stephen King’s novel. The conversation between the two actors lasted two and a half hours, centering around the execution and survival of authentic stunt work.
Powell recalled asking Cruise,
“What is your advice on not only how to make these things look authentic for an audience, but how to survive a movie?”
Lessons on Physicality and Respect for Stunts
Tom Cruise emphasized the brutal reality hidden behind the glamor of stunt performance, warning that the physical toll is just as intense as the actions portrayed on screen. Powell recounts Cruise saying,
“One was clearly stating that stunts are just as painful as the real thing. He’s like, you’ve got to really fortify your body because it’s like a normal fight — those physics are still the physics of what is actually happening. If you get slammed onto your back from a table, you’re going to feel that someone slammed you on the back from a table, and you’re going to do it 12 or 13 times. Right?”
Further, Cruise stressed a deep reverence for the craft itself. Powell explained,
“It was made very clear after talking to him that there was a real sense of discipline around these things, and to treat these stunts with reverence, because you can get extremely hurt, and he knows it better than anyone,”
adding,
“He’s broken every bone in his body. He’s like, this is not messing around.”
The Challenge of Portraying Ben Richards
In The Running Man, Powell’s character Ben Richards is an ordinary father forced into a deadly game show while trying to provide for his ill child. Unlike a trained warrior or superhero, Richards must endure relentless physical punishment. This reality shaped Powell’s approach, yet Tom Cruise inspired him to recognize the rare opportunity it presented.
Powell shared Cruise’s perspective:
“He was also talking about obviously the investment that it takes for an actor to do your own stunts — it’s a great privilege and it’s super important to sell it to an audience.”
He continued quoting Cruise,
“To do all those things is really, really crucial to sell what you need to sell in a movie and to justify people’s ticket prices. If they’re following you, they want to know that that’s the commitment. If I want you to show up for me, I’ve got to show up for you.”
The Impact of Mentorship on Powell’s Performance
Beyond practical advice, Tom Cruise’s mentorship served as a source of inspiration and moral support for Powell throughout the filming process. Emphasizing Cruise’s unique combination of acting talent and stunt expertise, Powell said,
“I’ve got to say, Tom is obviously not only one of the greatest actors, but one of the greatest stunt performers. And really to have him as a friend and a mentor to make sure that I survived this movie was extraordinary.”
Anticipation Builds for The Running Man
The film, featuring a strong ensemble cast including Josh Brolin, Colman Domingo, Lee Pace, Michael Cera, William H. Macy, and Emilia Jones, is scheduled for theatrical release on November 14. As audiences prepare to witness the intense physical and emotional journey of Ben Richards, the behind-the-scenes stories of discipline and mentorship highlight how vital Tom Cruise’s guidance was in delivering an authentic portrayal.
In a production where action and authenticity meet, Tom Cruise stunt mentorship exemplifies the critical role experienced actors can play in supporting their peers, ensuring safety, and elevating the performance standard on demanding sets.
