Daijiworld Media Network - Los Angeles
Los Angeles, Aug 30: Hollywood star Tom Cruise has officially announced the sequel to his 1990 racing drama Days of Thunder, with Oscar-winning actor Anne Hathaway joining him in the much-anticipated follow-up, which is scheduled to hit theatres on June 2, 2028.
Cruise made the announcement on August 29 from Daytona International Speedway, where he and Hathaway appeared together ahead of the NASCAR event. The announcement marks their first on-screen collaboration.
Cruise will reprise his role as NASCAR driver Cole Trickle, the ambitious racer he portrayed in the original film. Hathaway will play a race-team owner and engineer in the sequel, bringing a new character into the high-speed world of NASCAR.
In a video shared on social media, Cruise and Hathaway appeared alongside a race car bearing the Days of Thunder branding and the summer 2028 release window.
Hathaway, who appeared pregnant in the video, joked about the timing of the production.
“I’m going to have this baby, and then we’re going to make this movie,” she said.
Cruise agreed, confirming that the pair would get to work on the film after Hathaway’s baby is born.
The sequel will be directed by Jonathan Levine, known for films including Warm Bodies and Long Shot. Will Staples has written the screenplay, while Cruise will produce the film alongside veteran producer Jerry Bruckheimer and Tommy Harper. Paramount Pictures is backing the project.
The film is expected to be shot for IMAX and receive a theatrical release, with Paramount having set June 2, 2028 as the official release date.
The announcement was made at Daytona International Speedway, a location closely associated with NASCAR and the original Days of Thunder. The timing was particularly fitting as the announcement came on the day of the 2026 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona.
The original Days of Thunder, directed by Tony Scott, was released in 1990 and starred Cruise as Cole Trickle, a talented but headstrong driver attempting to establish himself in the NASCAR circuit.
The film also featured Nicole Kidman, Robert Duvall, Randy Quaid, John C Reilly, Michael Rooker and Cary Elwes. Cruise’s Trickle begins his NASCAR journey after moving from open-wheel racing and becomes involved in fierce rivalries on and off the track.
Despite receiving mixed reviews when it was released, the film developed a strong following among NASCAR fans and has remained associated with the sport’s popular representation on the big screen. It earned around $157.9 million worldwide against a reported production budget of about $60 million.
The sequel comes nearly four decades after the original and follows the recent success of legacy sequels that have brought back popular characters for new generations.
While plot details of the new Days of Thunder remain largely under wraps, Cruise’s return as Cole Trickle and Hathaway’s role as a team owner and engineer are expected to place the story once again within the competitive world of NASCAR.