Rodrigo Santoro Shines on the TODAY Show and Details His New Three-Dimensional Villain in ‘Runner’

Global Brazilian star Rodrigo Santoro—widely known for his hit roles in productions like *Focus* and HBO’s acclaimed series *Westworld*—appeared on NBC’s iconic *TODAY Show*. During the interview, the actor shared exclusive details about his preparation and performance in his latest international action feature, *Runner*, in which he shares the screen with Hollywood heavyweights like Owen Wilson and Alan Ritchson.

In the conversation, Santoro emphasized that his character—cartel boss Damián Zaldívar—breaks away from the clichés typical of action movie villains. For the actor, the role carries significant emotional weight, as the character crosses paths with the heroes during a desperate race to secure a vital organ and save his own mother’s life.

At the 1:28 mark of the video interview, Rodrigo Santoro precisely defines the psychological essence of the role:

“It’s not the typical villain, it’s very three-dimensional. This is a troubled guy… it’s important to humanize every character you play.”

The film features an intense physical rivalry and heavy hand-to-hand combat sequences, requiring rigorous preparation from the Brazilian actor to go toe-to-toe with Alan Ritchson’s impressive physical power.