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Photo: Instagram/Tom Cruise
Movie analysts say that the surest signs of a recession are the revival of rom-coms and the release of unexpected sequels for classic movies. Whatever the reasoning behind the decision to revive the 1990 racing movie Days of Thunder, it can’t but come as good news for fans of the genre – and of Tom Cruise.
Tom Cruise, widely considered one of the last few remaining true action movie stars in Hollywood, has been keeping very busy in recent years. Since the dreaded 2020, when the entire world came to a stop, including showbiz, Cruise has been on a mission to put butts back in the theaters. He’s not openly against digital platforms, but he’s convinced that the movie experience is best in the theater.
In between sequels for Mission: Impossible and Top Gun (and rumored plans for an Edge of Tomorrow 2), Cruise has been working hard to bring another one into theaters. This past weekend, he confirmed Days of Thunder 2, the follow-up to the classic 1990 Days of Thunder, announcing Anne Hathaway as his co-star and officially kicking off the promo tour for it.
That seems a bit too early, seeing how the film is not even in production. As Cruise and Hathaway said in the cute little announcement posted to IG, it won’t be for another few months, as Hathaway must first carry her third pregnancy to term and take some time off to be with her family.
Photo: YouTube/Paramount Pictures
But the film works with a June 2, 2028 release date and will see Cruise reprise his role as racecar driver Cole Trickle. Hathaway’s part has not been confirmed yet, but it’s unlikely that she will “take over” from Nicole Kidman who, in the original film, played Trickle’s love interest.
A vague synopsis of the film says that “hot-headed rookie stock car driver Cole Trickle joins NASCAR and must overcome personal and professional challenges to achieve success in the high-stakes world of racing.” It’ll be a racing movie infused with lots of racing action and who knows what crazy stunts Tom Cruise comes up and eventually does himself, and let’s leave it at that.
The original film was directed by the late Tony Scott, off a script by Robert Town and Cruise himself. The followup sees Cruise in the producing chair, alongside Jerry Bruckheimer (a longtime Cruise partner and the original producer) and Tommy Harper, with Johanthan Levine (50/50, Warm Bodies) directing off a script by Will Staples.
Photo: YouTube/Paramount Pictures (Composite)
Just hours after the online announcement, Cruise, Bruckheimer, Harper, and Levine made an appearance at NASCAR’s Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. Cruise attended the drivers’ meeting, spoke on stage, and mingled with attendees, in what clearly the first promotional appearance for the film.
The appearance also signals NASCAR’s full involvement in the upcoming project, so expect more of the same – in a manner similar to Brad Pitt’s F1 appearances during production of the F1 movie.
At one point, Cruise was sat next to an empty seat with Kyle Busch’s name on it. The NASCAR driver passed away from pneumonia and sepsis earlier this year at the age of 41, and Cruise appeared emotional as he patted the empty chair.
In less touching Days of Thunder-related news, Randy Quaid, who starred in the original but is not yet confirmed for the sequel, took to X to blast Anne Hathaway’s casting. His argument is that “woke” Hathaway would drive away the MAGA audience of the film, which is why Cruise should fight to bring Kidman back onboard.
Photo: YouTube/Paramount Pictures
Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman met during the production of the original movie and were married a couple of years later. Their divorce remains, to this day, one of the most controversial in showbiz because of Cruise’s involvement with the Church of Scientology. In plainer words, there are better odds for the proverbial flying pigs than for these two to ever work together again.
Controversy aside, there’s a very good reason why they call cruise “the last” action movie star: he makes kickass action movies. Let’s see if he can outrun the thunder!
The rather-cheesy-but-cute announcement is below.
— (@hsufhkshndk11) August 30, 2026