More than 35 years after “Days of Thunder” introduced audiences to the high-speed world of NASCAR, the iconic racing movie is officially heading back to the big screen.
The long-awaited sequel will bring Tom Cruise back as legendary fictional NASCAR driver Cole Trickle, while Oscar-winning actress Anne Hathaway joins the franchise in a major new role. The film is currently scheduled to arrive in theaters in June 2028 and is being developed specifically with the big-screen experience in mind.
The announcement has generated considerable excitement among both movie fans and NASCAR supporters, particularly because Cruise’s return comes at a time when Hollywood has demonstrated that long-dormant franchises can successfully return decades after their original installments.
Cruise revealed the sequel news on social media on Saturday, Aug. 29, sharing a photograph of himself with Hathaway at Daytona International Speedway. Standing beside them was a stock car carrying the name Cole Trickle, immediately confirming the connection to the original movie.
The race car also features “Days of Thunder” branding and a Summer 2028 designation, signaling the planned release window.
The vehicle’s green-and-yellow design is another deliberate nod to the original movie. Fans of the 1990 film will recognize the colors as an homage to the famous Mello Yello-inspired racing livery associated with Cole Trickle.
Tom Cruise Returns as Cole Trickle
The biggest piece of news surrounding the sequel is Cruise’s return.
The actor originally portrayed Cole Trickle in the 1990 film, which followed a talented but aggressive open-wheel racer attempting to make his mark in NASCAR’s top division.
Trickle was portrayed as fiercely competitive and confident, but his transition into stock-car racing wasn’t easy. The character had to adapt to an entirely different racing environment while dealing with rivalries, crashes, injuries and the pressures of professional motorsports.
Cruise’s return more than three decades later creates an opportunity to explore what happened to Trickle after the events of the first film.
The details of the sequel’s story are currently being kept under wraps. However, bringing back the character strongly suggests that the new movie will connect its modern NASCAR setting to the legacy established in the original.
Cruise has also developed a reputation for performing demanding physical sequences himself, making his involvement particularly intriguing for racing fans.
The prospect of seeing the actor behind the wheel of a NASCAR stock car has already become one of the major talking points surrounding the project.
Anne Hathaway Joins the NASCAR Story
Anne Hathaway will play an important new character in the sequel.
According to information surrounding the project, Hathaway will portray a team owner and engineer, giving the film a character who could bring a different perspective to the world of professional stock-car racing.
Her role could potentially place her character in a central position alongside Cole Trickle, particularly if the story explores the modern business and technological side of NASCAR.
The combination of Cruise and Hathaway is also an intriguing pairing for audiences.
Hathaway has demonstrated her versatility across action, drama, comedy and blockbuster filmmaking, while Cruise remains one of Hollywood’s most recognizable action stars.
Together, they could give the sequel a new identity while retaining the spirit of the original.
“Days of Thunder” Sequel Targets June 2028 Release
The sequel is currently scheduled for June 2, 2028.
The production is also being planned for IMAX, which could make the film particularly attractive to audiences looking for a large-scale theatrical experience.
Racing movies benefit significantly from large screens and immersive sound. The combination of high-speed camera work, engine noise, crashes and track sequences could make IMAX an ideal format for the new film.
The project will be directed by Jonathan Levine, whose previous work includes movies such as “Long Shot” and “50/50.”
Cruise will produce the film alongside Jerry Bruckheimer and Tommy Harper.
Screenwriter Will Staples is also involved with the project.
The filmmakers have already begun connecting with the NASCAR world. Levine and Staples attended a NASCAR race at EchoPark Speedway in Georgia earlier this year, giving them an opportunity to experience modern stock-car racing firsthand.
That involvement could be important because NASCAR has changed dramatically since the original “Days of Thunder” was released.
NASCAR Drivers Are Excited About the Movie
The announcement has received plenty of attention from current NASCAR competitors.
Drivers have already expressed enthusiasm about seeing the sport represented on the big screen again.
Chase Briscoe, who drives the No. 19 Toyota, previously discussed the possibility of a sequel and suggested that the movie could generate significant attention for NASCAR.
One of the most interesting questions for drivers is whether Cruise will actually participate in racing-related filming at real NASCAR venues.
Given Cruise’s history of performing his own stunts, the possibility of seeing him drive a stock car during production has generated plenty of curiosity.
For NASCAR drivers, being involved in a major Hollywood production could also be an unusual opportunity.
Some competitors could potentially appear as themselves, while others might receive cameo roles.
That would continue a tradition established by the original film.
Denny Hamlin Has Already Met With the Filmmakers
NASCAR veteran Denny Hamlin is another driver who has had conversations with members of the production team.
Hamlin has been closely involved with NASCAR both as a driver and as a co-owner of 23XI Racing.
He has expressed optimism about the project, particularly because increased mainstream attention could benefit the sport.
While a Hollywood movie will inevitably dramatize certain aspects of NASCAR, Hamlin believes that additional exposure can still be valuable.
His involvement also demonstrates that the filmmakers appear interested in understanding the modern sport rather than simply recreating the NASCAR environment from the early 1990s.
That could help make the sequel feel authentic to contemporary racing fans.
What Happened in the Original “Days of Thunder”?
Released in 1990, “Days of Thunder” introduced audiences to Cole Trickle, an ambitious open-wheel racer who receives an opportunity to compete in NASCAR.
The character is recruited by team owner Tim Daland, played by Randy Quaid.
To help Trickle adjust to stock-car racing, Daland brings veteran crew chief Harry Hogge, portrayed by Robert Duvall, out of retirement.
Trickle’s aggressive driving style quickly creates friction.
One of the central rivalries of the movie develops between Trickle and fellow driver Rowdy Burns, played by Michael Rooker.
Away from the track, Trickle also develops a relationship with Dr. Claire Lewicki, played by Nicole Kidman.
The story takes a dramatic turn following a serious crash involving Trickle and Burns.
Burns suffers injuries that threaten his career, while Trickle is also forced to confront the dangers of racing.
The emotional climax involves the Daytona 500, where Trickle is asked to drive Burns’ car.
The original movie combined racing action with friendship, rivalry, romance and personal redemption.
The Original Movie Was a Box Office Success
“Days of Thunder” performed strongly at the box office.
The film earned approximately $157.9 million worldwide against a reported production budget of around $60 million.
It also received an Academy Award nomination for Best Sound.
While critics had mixed opinions about the movie, its reputation among racing and Cruise fans has endured.
One of its most memorable aspects was its connection to real NASCAR.
Several actual drivers appeared in cameo roles, helping blur the line between Hollywood’s fictional racing world and the real sport.
Among those who appeared were racing legends including Richard Petty, Rusty Wallace, Neil Bonnett and Harry Gant.
The movie therefore became a time capsule of NASCAR during the late 1980s and early 1990s.
The sequel will have a much different challenge: portraying NASCAR as it exists today.
Could Current NASCAR Drivers Appear in the Sequel?
One of the most exciting possibilities for fans is the potential involvement of current NASCAR stars.
The original movie included real drivers, and there is already speculation that the sequel could follow the same approach.
One obvious candidate is Ryan Blaney.
The 2023 NASCAR Cup Series champion already has some acting experience and has appeared in projects connected to both movies and television.
Blaney’s familiarity with cameras, racing and the entertainment world makes him a natural potential addition to the film.
However, no specific current-driver cameos have been confirmed.
Blaney himself has expressed excitement about the project and indicated that conversations with members of the writing team have given him confidence in the direction of the story.
Whether current drivers receive substantial roles or simply appear as competitors in racing scenes remains to be seen.
Tom Cruise Has Successfully Revived Another Classic Franchise
The “Days of Thunder” sequel is not the first time Cruise has returned to a beloved property decades after its original movie.
In 2022, he reprised his iconic role as Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in “Top Gun: Maverick.”
The sequel arrived 36 years after the original “Top Gun” and became a massive worldwide phenomenon.
“Top Gun: Maverick” earned approximately $1.5 billion worldwide, making it the highest-grossing movie of Cruise’s career.
It also received six Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture, and won the Oscar for Best Sound.
That success provides an obvious reason for Hollywood to revisit another Cruise-led property.
However, “Days of Thunder” presents a very different opportunity.
Unlike “Top Gun,” which focused on military aviation, the new project can place Cruise directly into the rapidly evolving world of NASCAR.
Modern racing technology, advanced cameras and large-format filmmaking could allow the sequel to deliver a substantially more immersive experience than the original.
Racing Movies Are Having a Major Moment
The announcement also comes during a period when racing movies have been performing well with mainstream audiences.
In 2019, “Ford v Ferrari” became a critical and commercial success.
Directed by James Mangold, the film dramatized the legendary rivalry between Ford and Ferrari at the 24 Hours of Le Mans.
It ultimately won two Academy Awards and earned more than $225 million worldwide.
Then came “F1,” starring Brad Pitt and directed by Joseph Kosinski.
Kosinski previously directed “Top Gun: Maverick,” making the connection between the recent racing success and Cruise’s upcoming project particularly interesting.
“F1” reportedly earned more than $600 million worldwide and received an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture while winning for Best Sound.
These successes demonstrate that audiences are willing to embrace racing stories when they combine authentic motorsport action with compelling characters.
That could work strongly in favor of “Days of Thunder 2.”
Why the Sequel Could Be Different From the Original
The world of NASCAR has changed considerably since Cole Trickle first appeared on screen.
The cars are different.
The technology is different.
The tracks and racing formats have evolved.
The business surrounding NASCAR has also become increasingly sophisticated.
A modern “Days of Thunder” sequel therefore has an opportunity to examine subjects that weren’t central to the original.
The movie could explore team ownership, engineering, sponsorship, driver development and the enormous commercial pressure surrounding professional motorsports.
Hathaway’s role as a team owner and engineer could be particularly useful in that regard.
At the same time, Cruise’s Cole Trickle could serve as a bridge between NASCAR’s past and present.
“Days of Thunder 2” Could Become Another Major Tom Cruise Event
The combination of Tom Cruise, Anne Hathaway, NASCAR and IMAX makes the upcoming sequel one of the more intriguing action projects currently scheduled for 2028.
The original “Days of Thunder” remains a nostalgic favorite among many racing and movie fans. Bringing Cole Trickle back after more than three decades gives the filmmakers an opportunity to honor that history while introducing the character to a completely new generation.
Cruise’s willingness to embrace physically demanding filmmaking could also make the racing sequences a major selling point.
Meanwhile, Hathaway’s involvement gives the story a new central character and potentially expands the movie beyond the driver-focused narrative of the original.
The involvement of NASCAR drivers and racing personalities could further strengthen the film’s authenticity.
With a June 2, 2028 theatrical release planned and IMAX screenings in the works, audiences will have to wait a little longer before Cole Trickle returns to the track.
But if the filmmakers can combine the nostalgia of the original with the scale and realism of modern motorsports filmmaking, “Days of Thunder 2” could become much more than a simple legacy sequel.
It could introduce Cole Trickle and the world of NASCAR to an entirely new generation.