The success of F1 has seemingly put motorsport back in Hollywood’s fast lane, and now another iconic racing franchise is preparing to return. Tom Cruise has announced a sequel to ‘Days of Thunder’, with Anne Hathaway joining him for the next chapter.
Nearly four decades after the original 1990 film, Cruise will reportedly return as Cole Trickle, the hot-headed NASCAR driver who made his big-screen debut in Tony Scott’s racing drama. The sequel is expected to take the story into the modern racing world, bringing back the high-speed action that made the original a cult favourite among motorsport fans.
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Cruise made the announcement at the Daytona International Speedway, revealing the project alongside Hathaway. The pair appeared in promotional material featuring a race car carrying the ‘Days of Thunder’ branding, immediately setting the tone for the film’s return to the track.
Hathaway is set to bring a fresh perspective to the franchise, reportedly playing a race-team owner and engineer. Her character could provide an interesting counterpoint to Cruise’s veteran racer as the story explores the increasingly technical and competitive nature of modern motorsport.
The announcement comes at an interesting time for racing films. Following the global success of F1, starring Brad Pitt, Hollywood appears increasingly willing to bet on motorsport as mainstream entertainment. The film’s combination of spectacular racing sequences, star power and IMAX presentation has demonstrated that audiences are willing to head to cinemas for stories built around the world of racing.
‘Days of Thunder’ could be the next major beneficiary of that momentum. With Cruise’s reputation for performing his own action sequences and his long-standing association with large-scale theatrical filmmaking, expectations will be high for the sequel to deliver genuinely spectacular track action.
Tom Cruise will also produce alongside Jerry Bruckheimer and Tommy Harper, while the film is being planned for premium large-format releases. The sequel is currently scheduled to hit cinemas on June 2, 2028. If F1 has opened the door for a new generation of motorsport movies, ‘Days of Thunder’ looks ready to put its foot firmly back on the throttle.
