Days of Thunder Sequel

Cole Trickle Is Heading Back to NASCAR

Tom Cruise will return as driver Cole Trickle in a follow-up to 1990's Days of Thunder, bringing one of his most unapologetically fast characters back nearly four decades later. The original grew from exaggerated summer blockbuster into a cult favorite among NASCAR fans, which gives this revival a very different starting line.

Anne Hathaway Takes a Place on the Pit Wall

Anne Hathaway joins Cruise as a race-team owner and engineer, putting her character at the center of the machinery and decisions rather than on the edge of the track. Plot details remain scarce, but that role creates room for a story about how a modern team works around an older Cole Trickle.

A New Crew Behind the Camera

Jonathan Levine is directing from a screenplay by Will Staples. Cruise is also producing alongside Jerry Bruckheimer and Tommy Harper, reconnecting the sequel with a producer who helped shape the original. The project is planned for IMAX and an exclusive theatrical run, including premium formats such as Dolby Cinema and 4DX.

Built to Put the Audience in the Race

Cruise has framed the new film around NASCAR's community as much as its speed, danger, and spectacle. That focus could give the follow-up a reason to exist beyond another victory lap. Paramount has set it for June 2, 2028, squarely positioning the return as a major summer theater event.