Tom Cruise announces Days of Thunder sequel to release in 2028, co-starring Anne Hathaway
The long-awaited sequel to 1990's 'Days of Thunder' is has been confirmed for a 2028 release, per Tom Cruise himself. He is again set to star as Cole Trickle alongside Anne Hathaway. She is set to play the role of a team owner and engineer.
The original film followed hotshot young racer Cole Trickle (Cruise) with a lot to learn about stock car racing as he tried to build a career in NASCAR, culminating with an epic battle for the Daytona 500 win.
The sequel film will release on June 2, 2028, and the project will be a shot for IMAX screens with an exclusive theater release, per a report from Variety.
Jonathan Levine, known for 'Long Shot' and 'Mr. Irrelevant,' is confirmed to direct the picture, with of course Cruise and Jerry Bruckheimer producing alongside Tommy Harper.
Cruise is at Daytona International Speedway this weekend for the NASCAR Cup Series regular season finale, and was a guest at the pre-race driver's meeting on Saturday night. He also addressed the NASCAR garage at the meeting, speaking on their plans for 'Days of Thunder 2.'
The original film remains culturally relevant to all NASCAR fans, and is often referenced even three decades later. Even 2009 Formula 1 World Champion Jenson Button gave credit to the film for fostering his love of NASCAR, with the British racing star ultimately running a handful of Cup races in recent years.
Discussions around the sequel really heated up following the success of 'F1', starring Brad Pitt, which made over $600 million at the box office. Bruckheimer was also a producer for that film.
Before his tragic passing in May, NASCAR legend Kyle Busch was among those who spoke with a film writer as they worked on an outline for the new film. Busch's nickname 'Rowdy' was a callback to Michael Rooker's character from the original film. The writer spoke to various people within the industry, and also visited race shops.
Details on the Days of Thunder 2 plot are few, but it's likely that NASCAR's actual weekly series will play a key role in the filming of key scenes, as they did in the original.
The original Days of Thunder, which was basically the Top Gun formula with NASCAR stock cars, grossed $157.9 million against a $60 million budget. A sequel to Top Gun did incredibly well in 2022, making an astonishing $1.5 billion worldwide at the box office.
Hollywood is getting ready for a high-speed reunion with Tom Cruise and Anne Hathaway joining forces for the long-awaited sequel to the 1990 racing movie Days of Thunder. Cruise announced the project on August 29, revealing that Hathaway will join him in the new film, which is scheduled to reach theaters on June 2, 2028.
Cruise will return as Cole Trickle, the determined NASCAR driver he originally played more than three decades ago. Hathaway will take on a new role as a team owner and engineer, giving the story a fresh character alongside Cruise's returning racing hero.
A New Chapter at the Racetrack
The original Days of Thunder, directed by Tony Scott, followed Cole Trickle as he entered the competitive world of NASCAR. The film became closely associated with Cruise's willingness to perform demanding driving sequences and helped establish the movie as a memorable racing drama.
The upcoming sequel will be directed by Jonathan Levine, with a screenplay by Will Staples. Cruise will also serve as a producer alongside Jerry Bruckheimer and Tommy Harper.
Although detailed plot information remains limited, the new movie is expected to return audiences to the world of NASCAR while introducing a new generation of characters and challenges.
Why the Casting Is Getting Attention
The combination of Cruise and Hathaway is one of the biggest reasons the announcement has attracted attention.
Cruise remains one of Hollywood's most recognizable action stars, particularly after the success of the Mission: Impossible franchise and Top Gun: Maverick. Hathaway, meanwhile, has built a diverse career spanning dramas, comedies, musicals and major franchise films.
This will also mark the first time Cruise and Hathaway have worked together on screen, making their pairing particularly interesting for movie fans.
A 2028 Movie to Watch
The sequel is planned for a June 2, 2028 theatrical release, giving the production plenty of time to develop its racing sequences and large-scale action scenes.
For Cruise fans, the return of Cole Trickle offers a chance to revisit one of his earlier roles. For Hathaway, the project provides an opportunity to step into a very different kind of blockbuster character.
With two major stars, a legendary racing setting and a filmmaker known for energetic storytelling, Days of Thunder sequel is already becoming one of Hollywood's more intriguing upcoming projects.