Tom Cruise to reprise 'Days of Thunder' role in 2028 sequel
The upcoming sequel will mark Cruise’s return to the NASCAR world more than three decades after “Days of Thunder” first brought the sport to Hollywood’s mainstream audience.
Tom Cruise will return as NASCAR driver Cole Trickle in a sequel to the 1990 racing film "Days of Thunder," with the follow-up scheduled to hit theaters in June 2028.
The 64-year-old actor announced the project Saturday (29 August) at Daytona International Speedway, hours before the NASCAR Cup Series regular-season finale. He also attended the pre-race drivers' meeting and spoke about the importance of NASCAR's racing culture and community.
Cruise said the new film will seek to give audiences a deeper understanding of NASCAR as a team sport and community while showcasing the speed, excitement and danger of racing.
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Anne Hathaway will co-star in the film, portraying a team owner and engineer. Paramount Pictures has set June 2, 2028, for its theatrical release.
Cruise will produce the movie alongside Jerry Bruckheimer and Tommy Harper. Jonathan Levine will direct from a screenplay by Will Staples. Bruckheimer, Harper and Staples also joined Cruise at the drivers' meeting.
Cruise made a high-energy appearance at the speedway, jumping onto the stage before posing for photographs, greeting fans and military personnel and preparing to watch the race from pit road.
The sequel follows years of speculation about a follow-up to "Days of Thunder." The Hollywood Reporter reported in November 2024 that Cruise had discussed the project with Paramount.
The original film, directed by Tony Scott and produced by Bruckheimer, was a commercial success despite receiving poor reviews and drawing criticism within NASCAR circles for its exaggerated portrayal of stock-car racing. Over the years, however, it developed a cult following among NASCAR fans.
Cruise's character, Cole Trickle, was loosely inspired by late NASCAR driver Tim Richmond. The film helped introduce NASCAR to a broader mainstream audience at a time when stock-car racing had limited exposure outside its traditional fan base.
Four-time NASCAR Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon has previously encouraged Cruise to make a sequel. Gordon and Cruise have remained friends, raising the possibility that Hendrick Motorsports could potentially be involved in the new project.
Cruise, known for performing many of his own stunts, also recalled filming a dangerous sequence at Daytona for the original movie. He said a car he was driving at high speed suddenly caught fire while he was filming on the backstretch.
"Suddenly, the whole car was in flames," Cruise recalled, describing the incident as turning "from a barbecue to a bonfire."
The upcoming sequel will mark Cruise's return to the NASCAR world more than three decades after "Days of Thunder" first brought the sport to Hollywood's mainstream audience.
