'The Running Man' Star Shares Cruise's Stunt Survival Advice

In a recent interview, 'The Running Man' star Powell discusses the invaluable mentorship he received from his 'Top Gun: Maverick' co-star and friend, Tom Cruise, during the filming of the dystopian thriller.

Powell recalls reaching out to Cruise for advice on "how to make these things look authentic for an audience, but how to survive a movie" like 'The Running Man'. Cruise was clear that stunts are as physically demanding as the real thing, emphasizing the need to "fortify your body" to withstand repeated takes.

The other key lesson Cruise imparted was the importance of respecting the stunts themselves. "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," Powell says. Cruise, who has "broken every bone in his body," drove home that stunt work is "not messing around."

Ultimately, Cruise reminded Powell that doing his own stunts is "a great privilege" that helps "sell what you need to sell in a movie and to justify people's ticket prices." Powell is grateful to have had Cruise's guidance to ensure he "survived this movie."