Tom Cruise's advice prepared Glen Powell for the role of a lifetime
The action thriller The Running Man, based on the novel by Stephen King, will soon hit the big screens.
Following the adaptation of the 1987 cult film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, the lead role in the new version is played by Glen Powell.
The highly anticipated film, which will hit theaters on November 13, is being billed as a combination of the dark tone of King's novel and the aesthetic of the previous adaptation.
The biggest difference from the novel is Powell's choice of the main character. In the book, protagonist Ben Richards is described as athletic but underweight due to decades of poverty. In the new film, his version will be more like Schwarzenegger's interpretation.
“I knew Ben Richards was described as a tank in King’s book. I thought, ‘Okay, I have to look like a gun.’ That’s why I trained in a particular way. I gained a lot of muscle and the training was also functional so I could take the punches. But it was all about authenticity in front of the audience,” Powell told GQ magazine.
Powell was helped by action legend Tom Cruise in realizing this vision. They became close while filming Top Gun: Maverick, though Powell was initially unsure if he would accept the role. He auditioned for the role of Goose's son, which ultimately went to Miles Teller. He was offered the supporting role of Lt. Jake "Hangman" Seresin, but initially turned it down as he was aiming for the lead role.
"I went from an actor who was just making a movie to someone who was training like a great athlete. I'm lucky to have a person like Tom who I could literally say, 'What do I have to do to survive this?'" Powell said.
However, Cruise convinced him to accept the job, and that's when their friendship and mentoring relationship began.
Powell recalled how Cruise gave her advice not only on fitness, but also on how to cope with the sudden surge in popularity.
“He told me, ‘It’s going to be very noisy. It’s your job to turn the noise down. Remember, you control the switch.’ I learned to rely on my instincts, and that helped me a lot,” Powell explained.
