Glen Powell has never been afraid of a challenge, but his latest project, The Running Man, has taken him to a whole new level of physical and technical accuracy. As Powell gets ready to star in Edgar Wright’s upcoming adaptation of the classic sci-fi thriller, he has learned something surprising: running convincingly on camera is much tougher than most people imagine.
The actor, who became famous for his roles in Top Gun: Maverick and Anyone But You, admitted that he didn’t realize how hard it would be to make a basic sprint look real on TV. What started out as regular exercise eventually turned into a comprehensive study of how the body works, how it moves, and how to improve performance. His biggest revelation during this process? Powell and the specialists who are helping him say that very few actors know how to really run on camera, and Tom Cruise is still the best.
Powell told Rotten Tomatoes in a recent interview that his training adventure started with one piece of advise from Cruise himself. “Most individuals on camera don’t know how to run. He said, “It’s really hard to do.” “Everyone thinks they can run on camera.” Tom urged me to “film yourself running just to see what it looks like.”
Powell’s life altered completely when he got that simple advise. When he ultimately followed Cruise’s advice and filmed himself running, he thought it was “lame.” It didn’t have the strength, grace, or controlled intensity that great action scenes need. The video didn’t have the sense of urgency or emotion that a chase scene usually provides. Powell said with a giggle, “It looked so awkward, and that’s when I knew I couldn’t just fake it.”
Powell wanted to get better, so he asked sprinting experts and movement specialists for help understanding what makes running look good on camera. One coach is said to have advised him, “It’s not just about speed.” “It’s all about your rhythm, posture, and how the camera sees your stride.” For the actor, that meant looking at each frame of his movements and figuring out how his arms swung, how his knees raised, and even how his head kept straight. The result was a process that took months and required both physical strength and artistic understanding.
The purpose of on-camera running is to create a story, not to be fast and efficient like in athletic training. The actor isn’t just moving around; he’s showing fear, determination, or desperation, typically in close-up and slow motion. Powell said, “In The Running Man, my character is always fighting to stay alive.” “The way I move has to show that I’m tired, scared, and planning all at the same time.” You can’t just run; you have to do something while you run.
It is important to mention The Running Man. The movie is based on Stephen King’s 1982 book written under the name Richard Bachman. It shows a dystopian future where competitors have to physically run for their lives in a lethal game on TV. Powell had to make every move feel meaningful and real because he was playing such a physically demanding part. Director Edgar Wright, who is known for his fast-paced visual style and precise editing, is said to have told Powell to think of movement as an extension of character. This fits nicely with Wright’s dynamic storytelling style in movies like Baby Driver and Hot Fuzz.
Powell has liked Cruise for a long time. The two actors worked together on Top Gun: Maverick, where Powell saw the older star’s incredible discipline up close. He previously commented in an interview, “Tom is in a league of his own.” “He looks at every single move. When he runs, there’s a lot of intensity. It’s not only physical; it’s also emotional. You think he’s running for something important.
Powell resolved to be just as precise when getting ready for The Running Man. He started watching moments from Cruise’s movies and figuring out what made them visually interesting. Cruise’s running technique has become nearly iconic, from Mission: Impossible to Edge of Tomorrow. It’s a part of his personality that mixes speed, balance, and an understanding of movies. Powell said that Cruise’s stance, arm swing, and stride length all work together to make a rhythm that suits the camera’s frame precisely. Powell said, “He’s not just running; he’s doing motion.”
It’s tempting to think of jogging as a simple thing that everyone does, but Powell learned that being physically active on screen needs a different kind of knowledge. The camera makes everything look bigger. A slightly uneven walk, an arm that is in the wrong spot, or a head that is angled might ruin the whole illusion. He said, “When you’re really running, you don’t think about how it looks.” “But every step you take while acting tells part of the story.” You need to know what the audience perceives.
This intense attention on how to act shows that Powell is becoming known as one of the most dedicated young actresses in Hollywood. He brings a mix of charm and discipline to each job, using both old-school skill and new-school energy. The Running Man sounds like a fantastic fit in many respects. It’s a movie that needs both physical and emotional strength.
We don’t know much about Powell’s training program, but some who work on the show have said that it includes high-intensity drills, long runs, and even camera tests that needed many takes at full speed. Powell is alleged to have commented, “There were days when I felt completely spent,” but that’s the idea. I don’t get to rest because my character doesn’t.
As the movie gets closer to being done, people are getting more and more excited about how Wright’s direction and Powell’s passion will come together to make a new, exciting version of the story. The first Running Man, with Arnold Schwarzenegger, was based a lot on action movies from the 1980s. Wright’s version, which stars Powell, is likely to be darker and more psychologically complex.
Powell’s journey is based on a basic but deep truth about acting: the smallest things make it real. People may tell when something is real by the way a muscle feels, the timing of a breath, or the rhythm of a sprint. Powell responded, “That’s what I learned from Tom.” “You can’t fake hard work.” The camera sees it all.
Fans are excited to watch how Powell’s hard work and dedication show up on screen as he continues to practice and improve his performance. This role is not just another step in his career; it’s also a test of his physical and artistic endurance. “Running may seem easy,” he added with a chuckle, “but if you want to make it real on film, it’s a whole different race.”
