A sequel to "Days of Thunder" is officially in development, with Paramount Pictures planning a worldwide theatrical release for June 2, 2028. The new film will bring back Tom Cruise as NASCAR driver Cole Trickle, the character he first played in the 1990 original.
Cruise will be joined by Anne Hathaway, who has officially signed on to play a race car engineer and team owner. (The original film had Nicole Kidman as the female lead. It's not yet clear how her absence would be addressed by the sequel.)
Jonathan Levine ("Warm Bodies", "50/50") is set to direct the sequel, working from a screenplay by Will Staples. Jerry Bruckheimer, who produced the original film, will return as a producer alongside Cruise and Tommy Harper.
Paramount is moving quickly on the project, with production expected to begin in early 2027. The movie is being designed as a major big-screen racing experience. It will be filmed specifically with IMAX screens in mind and is expected to be shown worldwide in premium formats including Dolby Cinema and 4DX.
The idea for the sequel was reportedly helped along by NASCAR legend Jeff Gordon, a four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion and a longtime friend of Cruise. Gordon publicly encouraged Cruise to bring Days of Thunder back. Cruise responded enthusiastically, saying, "We're doing it."
The sequel comes 38 years after the original "Days of Thunder", which was released in 1990. The decision to revive the franchise follows Cruise's success with legacy sequels, particularly "Top Gun: Maverick". Like that film, the new racing movie aims to deliver a greater sense of realism by using practical filming techniques and authentic racing environments.
The announcement was made at Daytona International Speedway shortly before NASCAR's regular-season finale. Cruise and Hathaway also marked the news by sharing a photograph of themselves leaning against a NASCAR stock car.
The filmmakers are supposedly taking inspiration from the approach used on "Top Gun: Maverick", with an emphasis on practical racing rather than relying entirely on computer-generated effects. Cruise, Bruckheimer and Staples have already attended official NASCAR driver meetings to understand the sport, its teams and the atmosphere inside the racing garage.
Screenwriter Will Staples brings experience in fast-paced action and military storytelling. He is particularly known for his work on major video games, including "Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3". He also co-wrote the Michael B. Jordan espionage thriller "Without Remorse" for Amazon Studios.
The "Days of Thunder" sequel is one of several major projects on Cruise's schedule. Before its planned 2028 release, he is expected to appear in "Digger", a satirical black comedy directed by Oscar winner Alejandro G. Iñárritu. Cruise will reportedly play an extremely wealthy and delusional oil tycoon whose actions lead to an environmental crisis in Greenland.
At the same time, Cruise remains attached to "Top Gun 3", which Paramount is developing alongside the racing sequel. Together, these projects suggest that even as Cruise reduces his involvement in the "Mission: Impossible" franchise, he is continuing to revisit some of his most famous movie roles while exploring new stories.
