Glen Powell recounts Tom Cruise's humbling advice before new film: ‘You don't look as cool as you think’

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Before stepping into the high-octane, dystopian world of 'The Running Man', Glen Powell turned to Tom Cruise for advice.

But instead of a motivational pep talk or a crash course in stunt choreography, Cruise offered Powell something much more humbling: a dose of reality about how he looks when running on screen.

Glen Powell reveals Tom Cruise’s brutally honest advice

Glen Powell and Tom Cruise forged a tight bond while filming 'Top Gun: Maverick', where Powell’s 'Hangman' and Cruise’s seasoned 'Maverick' soared through the skies together.

So, when Powell was cast as the lead in Edgar Wright’s upcoming sci-fi thriller 'The Running Man', his first instinct was to call Cruise for guidance.

“When I was cast, Tom was my first call … to learn how to run,” Powell recalled as per Deadline, at the Creative Community Luncheon during CinemaCon 2025.

He explained that Cruise, famous for his sprinting sequences in 'Mission: Impossible,' was eager to help, but pulled no punches when it came to honesty.

“He said, ‘Film yourself running as soon as possible. You don’t look as cool as you think.’”

As Powell continued, he admitted that Cruise's candid comment sent him straight to the drawing board, or in this case, the treadmill and the camera.

“We did, and, as you talk to these running coaches [they say] there's, like, only one actor that knows how to run on screen. It's Tom Cruise.”

Apparently, even in Hollywood, mastering the perfect sprint is more elusive than it seems.

While most actors are focused on lines and choreography, Cruise has perfected the art of the on-screen dash, a skill Powell clearly aspired to emulate in 'The Running Man.'

Glen Powell races against time in Edgar Wright’s 'The Running Man'

Based on Stephen King's 1982 novel, 'The Running Man' is set in a dystopian future where Powell’s character, Ben Richards, enters a deadly global game show in the hopes of winning enough money to pay for his daughter’s life-saving treatment.

Reportedly it might seem like 'Hunger Games', but with more running, more grit, and a bigger emotional punch.

Directed by Edgar Wright ('Last Night in Soho'), the film is slated for release on November 7 and features a stacked supporting cast: Colman Domingo, William H. Macy, Katy O'Brian, Daniel Ezra, Michael Cera, Karl Glusman, and Josh Brolin.

Knowing the physically demanding nature of the role, Powell trained relentlessly.

“I don’t have the insurance plan to be Tom Cruise. I’m not trying to be Tom Cruise, but I will say I learned so much from him on how to properly do an action movie.”

He added, “I knew we were going to be shooting a lot of practical stunts on this movie, and I definitely got in what I call bulletproof shape, just knowing I was going to have to take some hits. But I don’t think I fully prepped myself for what we tackled on this one.”