Stephen King Remake Star Proves How Committed He Is to Becoming the Next Great Action Hero

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Glen Powell is gearing up for his next big role in Edgar Wright’s adaptation of Stephen King‘s *The Running Man*. He’ll play a contestant on a brutal reality TV show where survival is the ultimate challenge. While Powell is known for action films, he says this role has been his most physically demanding yet, as he’s doing the majority of the stunts himself.

Ahead of the November 14th release of *The Running Man*, Arnold Schwarzenegger spoke with *Entertainment Weekly* about the film. He revealed he did all of his own stunts, wanting audiences to know it was truly him performing the action. He and director Paul Michael Glaser had to agree on letting him take some hits on camera to prove his commitment to the role.

As a fan, what always gets me is knowing it’s *really* the actor doing the stunts. You can always tell when they’re trying to use a double – the angles are off, they’re hiding the face. I remember hearing about times when Edgar was filming and I was taking a beating – actual falls off roofs, over walls, and getting punched in the stomach! I apparently even told him, ‘Hey, if I’m going to take a punch to the face, please make sure everyone knows it’s *me* doing it! I’m putting my body on the line for the fans, so let’s make it real.’

I admire performers who are dedicated to doing their job the right way, even if it means pushing themselves to the limit. It’s a tough profession – you might get hurt along the way – but that’s part of what it’s all about. You have to give it your all, not just go through the motions.

Glen Powell Followed Some Sage Advice From Tom Cruise: “That’s My Coach”


Paramount Pictures

Glen Powell has proven himself as a rising action star, and his role in *Top Gun: Maverick* was a major turning point in his career. The film launched him to fame and also gave him the opportunity to build a lasting relationship with Tom Cruise, who has become a mentor to Powell.

Whenever the conversation turns to stunts, Powell immediately mentions his close relationship with Tom Cruise. He refers to Cruise as “my coach,” acknowledging the actor’s reputation for performing incredibly risky and dangerous stunts for his films. As soon as Powell landed the role in *Running Man*, he knew exactly who to call.

I called Tom Cruise first. He’s definitely one of the best actors ever, but he might be the most incredible stunt performer of all time. I asked him what I needed to know to prepare, and he gave me an idea of his process for each movie. He told me, ‘If you’re doing a movie called ‘The Running Man,’ you need to be in running shape when you arrive.’

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2025-10-14 17:06