Hollywood star Glen Powell has revealed the hilarious and embarrassing details behind filming a particularly revealing naked scene in his upcoming action thriller The Running Man. The 37-year-old actor, fresh from his success in Anyone But You, didn't hold back when discussing the challenging shoot during his appearance on Friday night's episode of The Graham Norton Show.
The Unforgettable Naked Scene
Powell described having to perform a daring stunt that left him feeling particularly exposed. "I had to abseil down eight storeys of a building in freezing conditions half naked and wearing a harness which cinched me – believe me nothing looked good," the actor confessed to Norton and the studio audience.
The situation became even more awkward when Powell discovered the specific role of one crew member. "The crazy thing I found out after was that there was a guy whose only job was to stop me kicking a window, which means he was looking up my skirt all night," he revealed, adding with humour, "I wondered what he was seeing take after take."
Tom Cruise's Unexpected Intervention
In perhaps the most surprising revelation, Powell shared how legendary actor and stunt performer Tom Cruise offered him some brutally honest advice. The 63-year-old Top Gun star apparently reached out to Powell during filming to share his expertise.
"Tom rang me to give me the low down and, what I thought would be a ten min call, lasted two and half hours – he basically told me how not to die," Powell explained. The conversation took an unexpectedly personal turn when Cruise critiqued Powell's running technique, saying, "You should film yourself running because you don't look as cool as you think you do."
Powell graciously admitted that Cruise was absolutely right about his running form, and took the advice to heart during the remainder of filming.
Continuing a Legacy With Arnold's Blessing
The new film marks the second adaptation of Stephen King's 1982 novel, following Arnold Schwarzenegger's iconic 1987 version. British director Edgar Wright has taken on the mammoth task of remaking the cult classic, which is set in a dystopian future where criminals become 'runners' trying to escape professional killers on a deadly television show.
Powell revealed that he sought Schwarzenegger's blessing before taking on the role, explaining, "I didn't want to tread on his legacy without speaking to him. He was lovely and gave me his blessing." The action icon apparently shared some surprising reflections on his own career, telling Powell, "He doesn't miss any of his action movies. He was like, 'It's a brutal way to go to work, I preferred Kindergarten Cop and Twins'."
Powell was joined on the famous red sofa by an impressive lineup of guests, including actresses Michelle Yeoh, who discussed the upcoming release of Wicked: For Good, and Rosamund Pike, who shared her own Tom Cruise story about receiving encouragement from him before filming Gone Girl.
Comedian Jack Whitehall also appeared, discussing his most disastrous gig, while music superstar Ed Sheeran performed his new track Camera live in the studio and talked about his future albums.
The Graham Norton Show airs on BBC One and iPlayer on Friday 7th November at 10.40pm, promising an evening of entertainment and surprising celebrity revelations.
