Anne Hathaway Joins Tom Cruise in ‘Days of Thunder’ Sequel

Hollywood stars Tom Cruise and Anne Hathaway are teaming up for the long-awaited sequel to the 1990 racing drama Days of Thunder, nearly four decades after the original hit theatres.

Cruise will return as NASCAR driver Cole Trickle, the character he portrayed in Tony Scott’s original film. Hathaway is joining the franchise as a race-team owner and engineer, marking her first on-screen collaboration with Cruise.

The announcement was made through a video featuring Cruise and Hathaway at Daytona International Speedway. A promotional image and footage revealed the return of the Days of Thunder title, with the sequel scheduled to arrive in cinemas on June 2, 2028. The movie is being developed specifically for IMAX.

Tom Cruise returns as Cole Trickle

The original Days of Thunder followed Cole Trickle, a talented but hot-headed driver who makes the transition to NASCAR and faces fierce competition on and off the track. Cruise’s performance became one of the defining roles of his early career.

The sequel will bring Cruise back to the world of NASCAR more than 35 years after the first film. While plot details remain largely under wraps, Hathaway’s role as a team owner and engineer is expected to introduce a new dimension to the racing story.

Jonathan Levine to direct

Jonathan Levine, known for films including 50/50, Warm Bodies and Long Shot, will direct the sequel. Will Staples has written the screenplay, while Cruise will produce the film alongside Jerry Bruckheimer and Tommy Harper.

The project arrives amid renewed interest in Hollywood racing movies following the success of F1. Cruise himself has also embraced large-scale action filmmaking in recent years, most notably with the Mission: Impossible franchise and Top Gun: Maverick.

A new chapter nearly 40 years later

The original Days of Thunder also starred Nicole Kidman, Robert Duvall, Cary Elwes and Michael Rooker. Kidman played Dr Claire Lewicki, who became romantically involved with Cruise’s Cole Trickle.

The new film’s story and additional casting details have yet to be fully revealed, leaving questions over whether any members of the original cast will return.

For Cruise, the sequel represents another opportunity to revive one of his earlier blockbuster characters following the success of returning to the role of Pete “Maverick” Mitchell in Top Gun: Maverick.

With Hathaway joining the cast and the film being prepared for IMAX, Days of Thunder is now set for a high-profile return to the big screen in 2028.