Glen Powell Was Told He Could 'Wake up Without a Hand' After Injury on the Running Man Set Turned Septic

Glen Powell has revealed that an injury sustained while filmingThe Running Man became so serious that doctors warned he could wake up without his hand.

The 37-year-old actor was filming the 2025 action film in Bulgaria when a scene near the end of the movie went badly wrong. Powell's character was supposed to be stabbed in the hand with a retractable prop knife, but the blunt end of the prop caused significant damage and ruptured a tendon.

Powell initially underestimated the injury. With The Running Man working towards its release date and a J.J. Abrams film waiting in the wings, the actor said he was focused on keeping production moving rather than stopping to assess the damage.

But the pain and swelling continued to worsen, eventually forcing him to seek emergency treatment at a hospital in Bulgaria.

Doctors discovered that the tendon had been completely severed and that Powell had developed a septic infection. As he was being prepared for surgery, he was warned about the possibility of losing his hand.

'This is the real deal,' Powell recalled being told. He was also warned that he 'could wake up without a hand'.

The emergency operation was successful, and Powell kept his hand. But instead of taking time to recover, he returned to the Running Man set the following day.

Glen Powell Returned to Filming After Emergency Surgery

Medical staff advised Powell to keep his injured hand dry and warm and allow it to rest. Instead, the production incorporated his bandaged hand into the film so he could continue working.

His return was far from a light day on set.

Powell filmed a sequence in which his character climbs an apartment building while wearing only a towel. He later recalled completing the scene in temperatures of around -10°C, using only one arm because of the injury.

The experience took a significant physical and emotional toll on the actor.

'I left that movie broken, physically and emotionally,' Powell said, reflecting on the demands of the production.

His comments also raise a wider question about how an apparently manageable injury can become dangerous when symptoms are overlooked, or treatment is delayed.

How Can a Hand Injury Become a Serious Infection?

An open injury can allow bacteria to enter the body. While many wounds heal without major complications, deeper injuries involving tendons, nerves, or other structures can require prompt medical assessment.

Signs that a wound may be becoming infected include increasing pain, redness, warmth, swelling, or pus. Powell's experience is particularly notable because the worsening swelling and pain were what eventually prompted him to seek emergency treatment.

In more serious cases, an infection can spread beyond the original wound and trigger a potentially life-threatening reaction known as sepsis.

When Can an Infection Become Life-Threatening?

Sepsis occurs when the body's response to an infection damages its own tissues and organs. It can develop quickly and requires urgent medical treatment.

Warning signs can include confusion or disorientation, severe pain or discomfort, fever or chills, difficulty breathing, a rapid heart rate, and clammy or sweaty skin. Very high or low body temperature and passing little or no urine can also be warning signs.

Anyone with an infected wound that is rapidly worsening, particularly when accompanied by severe symptoms or a feeling that something is seriously wrong, should seek urgent medical attention.

Powell ultimately saved his hand, but his experience shows how quickly an injury sustained during a film stunt can move from an inconvenience to a medical emergency.