Tom Cruise has announced a sequel to the 1990 racing film “Days of Thunder”, with Anne Hathaway joining him in the cast and a cinema premiere planned for 2028.
Cruise made the announcement on Saturday, ahead of the NASCAR season finale at Daytona International Speedway in Florida. According to DR, which cites the news agency AP, he will once again play racing driver Cole Trickle.
Anne Hathaway will appear as a team owner and engineer, per the same reporting. The sequel is scheduled to open in June 2028, close to 40 years after the first film.
Besides taking the lead role, Cruise will produce the film with Jerry Bruckheimer and Tommy Harper. Yahoo Entertainment reports that the reveal came in a social media video posted on Saturday, August 29, 2026. The outlet adds that Hathaway’s casting was confirmed at the same time.
From flop to cult film
The original film grew out of an idea from Cruise himself, according to AP as cited by DR. He wanted to make a movie about fast cars and the people who drive them.
The story follows Cole Trickle, who gets a chance to compete in NASCAR races. The character has a strong temper, which creates friction with rival drivers and inside his own team.
The role is loosely based on the late American driver Tim Richmond, AP reports. Richmond competed in NASCAR during the 1980s.
“Days of Thunder” was poorly received when it opened in 1990. Reviewers criticized it, and the film was mocked for overplaying its material.
It has since become popular in motorsport circles, DR notes. Racing fans still reference the film decades after its release.
The start of a Hollywood marriage
In the original film, Cruise played opposite Nicole Kidman, who appeared as Dr. Claire Lewicki. The two actors became involved during filming and later married. They have since divorced.
Cruise has been one of Hollywood’s most sought-after actors since the late 1980s. He has led films including “Top Gun” and the “Mission: Impossible” series.
Neither DR nor Yahoo Entertainment reported a director for the sequel. No filming locations or start date have been named in the announcement.
