Adam Scott Channels Tom Cruise’s Iconic Run in Explosive ‘Severance’ Scene – Here’s How!

Adam Scott, star of the hit series Severance, recently revealed an unexpected source of inspiration behind a key moment in the show’s Season 2 opener—none other than Hollywood legend Tom Cruise. In an appearance on SiriusXM’s Literally! With Rob Lowe podcast, Scott shared how Cruise’s signature running style influenced the opening sequence, where his character, Mark, races down the Lumon hallway.

“There’s no way, if you’re running that much in a suit, there’s no way you can avoid any sort of comparison to Tom Cruise because he’s the king,” Scott, 51, said with a laugh. The actor explained that Cruise’s action-packed, often-imitated running scenes in movies like Mission: Impossible have become so iconic that they couldn’t be avoided when filming a similar sequence for Severance.

In the episode’s opening scene, Scott’s character is seen sprinting down the hall, but achieving the right level of authenticity in the run posed some unique challenges. The actor shared that the production used a treadmill with a harness to assist in filming, but soon found that the result wasn’t as realistic as they had hoped. “What we found was there was some uncanny valley thing that would start happening because if you’re on a treadmill, you’re running at a consistent speed,” he explained.

In contrast, when someone runs naturally, their speed fluctuates in subtle ways that are not immediately noticeable but are crucial for creating a more authentic portrayal of movement. Scott observed that this natural variation is one of the key elements that make Tom Cruise’s running scenes so impressive. “You clock it when you’re watching Tom Cruise run,” Scott noted. “There’s something very human about it because he’s actually doing it.”

To mimic the more organic, human-like quality of running, Scott had to adjust his technique. “We found that in order for it to be realistic, I had to run around on the treadmill just to make it inconsistent,” he said. The result was a more authentic, dynamic run, ensuring the scene captured the human qualities that make it believable, much like Cruise’s own memorable moments on screen.

Scott also mentioned that Severance director and executive producer Ben Stiller shares a similar admiration for Cruise’s iconic style. It’s clear that both Scott and Stiller drew inspiration from the legendary actor’s performances to enhance the realism of the Severance scene.

While the comparison between the two actors may be playful, it also highlights the attention to detail that makes Severance such a standout show. Thanks to a mix of Tom Cruise-inspired running techniques and a commitment to authenticity, Scott’s opening sequence in Season 2 is sure to leave a lasting impression.