When Glen Powell landed the lead role in the reboot of The Running Man, he knew exactly who to call for advice: his Top Gun: Maverick co-star, Tom Cruise. Powell, 37, shared that Cruise has been incredibly generous with his wisdom, honed from decades as a premier action star.
Seeking Wisdom from a Hollywood Legend
"I mean, when you have Tom Cruise in your phone, the best thing to do is take advantage of that wisdom," Powell said with a chuckle during a recent Zoom interview. "He's got decades of wisdom from being the greatest action star of all time. The best part about Tom is he's very generous with that wisdom. The guy always picks up."
This guidance was invaluable for Powell, who stars in the Edgar Wright-directed film, a new adaptation of Stephen King's 1982 novel. The project also serves as a reboot of the 1987 film that starred Arnold Schwarzenegger.
A Story for Our Times
Set in a dystopian future, the film thrusts Powell's character, a desperate father, into a deadly reality show where contestants must outrun a murderous gang of hunters for a chance to win a billion dollars. Powell expressed his deep connection to the story's core themes.
"One of the things that The Running Man has in its DNA is the type of story that I've loved: ordinary men against extraordinary odds," he explained. He cited films like Gladiator, Braveheart, and Minority Report as inspirations, stories where an individual confronts a powerful system.
Powell also highlighted the eerie prescience of King's source material. "Stephen King wrote this story in 1982. It is set in 2025. When you look at the world of 2025 it is so crazy and eerie how similar these worlds are." He noted that in today's world, where audience engagement drives content, the concept of a lethal game show feels unsettlingly plausible.
Life on Set with Brisket
During the interview, Powell also shared a lighter moment about his rescue dog, Brisket, who accompanied him during the overseas shoot. The crew's affection for the dog was so great that the costume designer created a miniature Running Man suit just for him.
"I gotta say, the crew took really good care of Brisket," Powell said. "I don't know how long he'd survive on the show. He's too cute to be on the most lethal game show of all time, but he looks cute in the suit."
For Powell, the project was a multi-faceted opportunity. It wasn't just a chance to work with a visionary director like Edgar Wright on a major action film, but also to be part of a story that comments on modern society and the search for humanity in an increasingly inhumane world.
