featuring @tomcruise @annehathaway
Tom Cruise is once again putting the pedal to the metal, with the actor officially returning as NASCAR driver Cole Trickle for a long-awaited sequel to Days of Thunder. Even more excitingly, Anne Hathaway is joining Cruise for the next chapter of the high-speed franchise.
The sequel was officially announced at Daytona International Speedway, with Cruise and Hathaway appearing together in a promotional video beside a NASCAR stock car bearing the Days of Thunder name. The film is now scheduled to race into cinemas on June 2, 2028, with the production planned for IMAX.
The announcement finally puts an end to years of speculation surrounding a possible return to the world of Days of Thunder. Cruise will reprise the role of Cole Trickle, the ambitious and fiercely competitive driver he first portrayed in Tony Scott’s 1990 racing drama.
While plot details are being kept under wraps, Hathaway’s role has already been revealed. The Oscar-winning actress will play a race team owner and engineer, setting up a potentially fascinating new partnership with Cruise’s veteran driver.
The sequel will be directed by Jonathan Levine, whose credits include Warm Bodies and Long Shot, from a screenplay by Will Staples. Cruise will also produce the movie alongside longtime collaborator Jerry Bruckheimer and producer Tommy Harper.
The return of Days of Thunder comes nearly four decades after the original film hit cinemas. The 1990 movie also starred Nicole Kidman, Robert Duvall, Randy Quaid, Cary Elwes and John C. Reilly, and followed Cole Trickle as he attempted to establish himself in the highly competitive world of NASCAR.
Although the original received a mixed critical response, it developed a lasting following among racing fans and has remained one of Cruise’s most recognisable early action roles. The film ultimately earned approximately $157.9 million worldwide against a reported $60 million production budget.
For Cruise, the sequel represents another major return to one of his classic characters following the extraordinary success of Top Gun: Maverick. That film brought Cruise back as Pete “Maverick” Mitchell more than three decades after the original Top Gun, becoming a worldwide phenomenon.
Now, Cruise appears ready to repeat the formula on the racetrack.
The timing is particularly interesting as Cruise continues to expand his post-Mission: Impossible career. Alongside the new Days of Thunder, the actor is also expected to return for another Top Gun movie, while his upcoming projects include Alejandro González Iñárritu’s Digger.
Hathaway, meanwhile, is entering the project during an especially busy period in her career. The actress has appeared in several major productions during 2026 and is also attached to projects including Verity, Alone at Dawn and the upcoming third Princess Diaries film.
With Cruise back behind the wheel and Hathaway bringing a new perspective to the racing world, Days of Thunder has the opportunity to introduce the franchise to an entirely new generation while giving longtime fans a chance to return to the track.
And if Cruise’s recent history is anything to go by, audiences can probably expect plenty of speed, spectacle and practical filmmaking when Days of Thunder finally returns to the big screen.
Days of Thunder is scheduled to race into cinemas on June 2, 2028, with the film planned for IMAX, Dolby Cinema and 4DX presentations.
