Additional Coverage:
- Tom Cruise tells Glen Powell ‘how not to die’ in lengthy stunt safety call before ‘Running Man’ filming (foxnews.com)
Tom Cruise Dishes Out “How Not To Die” Advice to Glen Powell for New Film Stunts
Hollywood, CA – It turns out even the most seasoned action stars need a little guidance, especially when the advice comes from the undisputed king of death-defying stunts himself, Tom Cruise. Actor Glen Powell recently revealed that his “Top Gun: Maverick” co-star, known for doing all his own action sequences, gave him an hours-long masterclass in “how not to die” before filming risky scenes for his upcoming movie, “The Running Man.”
Powell, 37, shared the surprising details during a recent appearance on “The Graham Norton Show,” explaining that Cruise, 63, provided an extensive breakdown on surviving the rigors of action work.
One particularly memorable stunt for Powell involved an eight-story abseil in freezing conditions, partially clad and cinched into a harness. “The crazy thing I found out after was that there was a guy whose only job was to stop me kicking a window – which means he was looking up my skirt all night – I wondered what he was seeing take after take!” Powell quipped, highlighting the often-unseen comical aspects of high-stakes filming.
Before tackling this sequence, Powell received a call from the “Mission: Impossible” star. “Tom rang me to give me the low down and, what I thought would be a 10-minute call, lasted two and a half hours – he basically told me how not to die!” the “Twisters” star recounted.
Beyond the life-saving tips, Cruise also offered practical advice on cinematic movement. “He also gave me running lessons,” Powell recalled.
“He said, ‘You should film yourself running because you don’t look as cool as you think you do.’ He was so right.”
Powell further elaborated on Cruise’s mentorship in an interview with Entertainment Weekly last month, where Cruise emphasized the brutal physical reality of stunt work and the paramount importance of discipline. “He was very clear about what that journey looks like,” Powell stated.
“One was clearly stating that stunts are just as painful as the real thing.” Cruise reportedly stressed that actors must fortify their bodies, as the physics of a stunt are very real, and repeated takes will take a toll.
“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,” Powell added, noting Cruise’s own history of injuries. “He’s broken every bone in his body. He’s like, this is not messing around.”
Cruise also impressed upon Powell that performing one’s own stunts is a “great privilege” and carries a responsibility to deliver realistic action for the audience. “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,” Powell conveyed.
“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.”
Powell expressed his gratitude for Cruise’s guidance, acknowledging him as “not only one of the greatest actors, but one of the greatest stunt performers.” He added, “And really to have him as a friend and a mentor to make sure that I survived this movie was extraordinary.”
“The Running Man,” directed by Edgar Wright, is a dystopian thriller slated for release on November 14. The film’s synopsis describes a near-future society where “The Running Man” is the top-rated television show – a deadly competition where contestants, called Runners, must survive 30 days while being hunted by professional assassins, all broadcast to a “bloodthirsty public.” Powell stars as Ben Richards, a working-class man who enters the game to save his sick daughter, becoming an unexpected fan favorite and a threat to the system.
The film also features Colman Domingo, Lee Pace, William H. Macy, Michael Cera, Emilia Jones, Daniel Ezra, and Jayme Lawson.
Since their collaboration on the 2022 blockbuster “Top Gun: Maverick,” Cruise has been a steadfast supporter of Powell’s career. Just recently, Cruise posted photos on social media attending a screening of “The Running Man,” posing with Powell and the cast, and praising the film.
“Another great night out with my friends at the movies!” Cruise wrote.
“You guys crushed it, congratulations! I laughed, was on the edge of my seat, and ate way too much popcorn.”