The Scene Drift

High octane action relies on visceral impact, but true cinematic suspense demands an unpredictable spark. In Runner, director and crew trade sterile action tropes for bone crunching practical stunts, razor tight pacing, and a suffocating cat and mouse chase where every strike carries genuine weight.

At the center of this collision is Rodrigo Santoro (300, Westworld), who steps into the boots of the menacing Damian. Going toe to toe against an imposing force of nature, Rodrigo Santoro infuses the antagonist with quiet, lethal complexity. Ahead of the film's debut, The Scene Drift sat down with Rodrigo Santoro to discuss trading blows with Alan Ritchson, improvised comedy with Owen Wilson, and avoiding villain caricatures.

Facing the Tank: Stunts and Safety

Going up against Alan Ritchson (Reacher) in a climactic third act showdown is an intimidating prospect for any performer. Yet when Rodrigo Santoro saw who he would be squaring off against, he realized matching sheer mass was out of the question.

"I knew him from Reacher," Rodrigo Santoro recalls. "I looked at a couple of pictures and I am like, this dude is really big! I am going to have to hit the gym a little harder this time."

Physical bulk aside, his primary focus quickly turned inward toward character nuance.

"It is not about trying to match his size or his muscles," he explains. "I try to make Damian threatening and dangerous in a very unpredictable way. It does not matter if he is a villain or a hero, to me he is always a human being and I am always working to build the conflicts and the complexity."

Despite the physical toll of a three day sequence, preparation paid off without a scratch.

"We had an amazing stunt team, and we took about two or three days to accomplish that sequence," Rodrigo Santoro says. "There is tension, there is adrenaline, especially against that guy! Alan was very helpful to me in terms of how to sell it better. He is really used to it."

Game Night and Bruce Willis

While the film maintains a relentless pulse, the cast found moments to imagine what an off duty gathering might look like if Damian and his adversaries dropped their weapons for an evening.

"I would invite them to play soccer," Rodrigo Santoro laughs. "I know how to play soccer, I am Brazilian! For food, I would go for coconut water and some really light snacks. That is the kind of stuff that I like."

However, feeding an action heavyweight required a quick menu adjustment.

"I will throw a little chicken in there, maybe beef," he grins. "Just to make sure we cover our protein for Alan!"

As for who else gets an invite to the table, Rodrigo Santoro looks straight to classic Hollywood royalty.

"I would bring Bruce Willis," he reveals warmly. "I grew up watching him and his charisma, his quality, his acting in action films was pretty remarkable. It was big for me when I was growing up."

Improv in the Shadows with Owen Wilson

Balancing the dark grit of the narrative is Owen Wilson, whose presence injected spontaneous humor into intense setups.

"Owen is so talented, so creative," Rodrigo Santoro notes. "He is a writer too, so he would come up with stuff and I got to improvise a lot with him."

That freedom extended to dynamic character work that unfortunately ended up on the cutting room floor.

"There is even one scene that did not make the final cut where we are both in the car, when Damian takes him to the hidden place," Rodrigo Santoro shares. "We both improvised and I loved working with him. Very smart, fun, but also about the work. Fun in character."

Neutral Gears and the Power of Listening

Across a celebrated career, Rodrigo Santoro has consistently sidestepped easy labels, refusing to play two dimensional cutouts. When stepping into darkness, his process begins with a total reset.

"Any kinds of clichés, caricatures, or stereotypes, I try to avoid," Rodrigo Santoro emphasizes. "Back in the day, we had cars with gears. You know the neutral gear? That is me when I start something. I have got to go neutral to be able to open up, listen, observe, and do not judge."

For Rodrigo Santoro, presence and stillness are the ultimate scene partners.

"I want to listen, observe, and absorb," he reflects. "One of the most potent things in a scene is when you actually listen and let what you listened to affect you and inform how you are going to do your next line."

The Ultimate Shield: Family First

In Runner, Damian relentlessly hunts down a crucial target, putting everything on the line. When asked what he would defend with that same fierce devotion in the real world, Rodrigo Santoro needs no hesitation.

"My kids, my family," Rodrigo Santoro shares softly. "I have two daughters, my wife. It is pretty much the most important thing that I have in my life."

At the core of his drive, connection outweighs everything else.

"Nothing is a bigger reason to live, to accomplish things, than the loves of your life," he concludes. "Oh yeah, man, I would do anything."

Through disciplined preparation, nuanced depth, and absolute presence, Rodrigo Santoro turns Runner into a layered, pulse pounding thrill ride.

Runner is coming soon to cinemas.