Anne Hathaway Joins Tom Cruise in Days of Thunder Sequel, Set for Summer 2028

After more than three decades, Tom Cruise is officially returning to the racetrack as Cole Trickle. The long-discussed follow-up to 1990’s Days of Thunder has finally been confirmed, with Anne Hathaway joining Cruise in the new film and Paramount Pictures setting a theatrical release date for June 2, 2028.

Cruise made the announcement in typically cinematic fashion, unveiling the project at Daytona International Speedway ahead of a NASCAR Cup Series event. He also shared a first-look promotional image featuring himself and Hathaway standing beside a familiar-looking lime-green and yellow stock car inspired by the original movie.

The announcement effectively puts one of Hollywood’s most recognizable racing stories back on the starting grid.

Tom Cruise Is Back as Cole Trickle

Cruise will once again portray Cole Trickle, the ambitious NASCAR driver he originally played in Tony Scott’s 1990 racing drama.

The original Days of Thunder followed Trickle as he entered the world of NASCAR and attempted to establish himself as one of the sport’s top drivers. His aggressive personality and uncompromising approach to racing frequently put him at odds with the people around him, while his relationship with Dr. Claire Lewicki, played by Nicole Kidman, added a personal dimension to the story.

Almost 40 years later, Cruise is returning to the character.

The new movie is being positioned as a legacy sequel, rather than a reboot that completely starts the story over. While plot details are being kept under wraps, Cruise’s return means the filmmakers can continue building on the world established by the original film.

Anne Hathaway Joins the Racing World

The biggest new addition to the franchise is Anne Hathaway, who will star opposite Cruise.

Hathaway is set to play a race-car team owner and engineer, giving her character a professional connection to the racing world that could make her an important part of the story both on and off the track.

Her casting also gives the sequel a fresh dynamic rather than simply attempting to recreate the original’s ensemble.

Cruise and Hathaway announced the project together in a playful video filmed at the racetrack. Hathaway joked that she would have her baby before they began making the movie, with Cruise agreeing that this was probably a good idea.

The announcement came while Hathaway is pregnant with her third child, meaning production will not immediately begin.

The Sequel Is Coming in 2028

Paramount has officially scheduled the new Days of Thunder for June 2, 2028.

The film will receive a major theatrical presentation, with production planned for IMAX and releases also expected in premium formats including Dolby Cinema and 4DX.

That decision fits perfectly with Cruise’s recent approach to blockbuster filmmaking.

After the enormous success of Top Gun: Maverick, which brought another one of his iconic characters back decades after the original film, Cruise appears to be attempting a similar strategy with Days of Thunder.

The two franchises also share another important connection: Jerry Bruckheimer.

The Top Gun: Maverick Connection

Cruise, Bruckheimer and producer Tommy Harper are producing the new Days of Thunder project, while Jonathan Levine is directing and Will Staples is writing the screenplay.

Bruckheimer’s involvement is particularly significant because he produced the original Days of Thunder as well as Top Gun and Top Gun: Maverick.

The success of Maverick demonstrated that an older franchise can return decades later without simply relying on nostalgia. Instead, the filmmakers can combine familiar characters and themes with modern filmmaking technology and a new generation of performers.

That appears to be the strategy behind the new Days of Thunder as well.

A Nearly 40-Year Wait

The original Days of Thunder arrived in 1990, meaning the new film will reach theaters nearly four decades after Cruise first stepped into Cole Trickle’s racing suit.

The original movie was directed by the late Tony Scott and featured an impressive ensemble including Robert Duvall, Nicole Kidman, Randy Quaid, Cary Elwes and John C. Reilly.

Although it wasn’t initially embraced as one of Cruise’s biggest critical successes, the film gradually developed a dedicated following, particularly among NASCAR fans.

Its legacy has also endured partly because of the film’s depiction of stock-car racing, its practical racing sequences and Cruise’s willingness to immerse himself in the sport.

Now, the sequel has an opportunity to revisit that world with modern technology while maintaining the racing-focused identity of the original.

What Will the Story Be About?

For now, the plot is being kept largely secret.

The biggest confirmed story detail is that Cruise is returning as Cole Trickle, while Hathaway will play a race-team owner and engineer. Beyond that, Paramount has not revealed exactly where the story picks up or how Trickle’s life has changed since the events of the first movie.

That leaves several major questions unanswered.

Will Cole Trickle still be competing behind the wheel?

Has he moved into another part of the racing industry?

Will Hathaway’s character recruit him for a new team?

And will the film introduce a younger generation of drivers who could eventually take the franchise beyond Cole?

Those questions could become central to the sequel’s story.

Will Nicole Kidman Return?

One of the biggest questions among fans of the original is whether Nicole Kidman will reprise her role as Dr. Claire Lewicki.

Kidman’s character was Cole Trickle’s love interest in the first film, and her relationship with Cruise became particularly notable outside the movie as well—the two actors met while working on Days of Thunder and subsequently married.

However, Kidman’s involvement in the sequel has not been announced.

The same applies to other original cast members. There has been no official confirmation that Robert Duvall, Cary Elwes, John C. Reilly or Randy Quaid will return.

For now, Cruise and Hathaway are the confirmed stars.

Jonathan Levine Takes Over as Director

The new movie will be directed by Jonathan Levine, whose credits include Warm Bodies, 50/50 and Long Shot.

This represents another major difference from the original.

Tony Scott directed the 1990 film, but Levine now has the responsibility of translating the high-speed NASCAR world into a modern blockbuster.

The script comes from Will Staples, while Cruise, Jerry Bruckheimer and Tommy Harper will produce alongside the star.

The involvement of Cruise and Bruckheimer should ensure that the sequel retains a strong connection to the original’s filmmaking philosophy while allowing Levine and Staples to establish their own tone.

The Racing Will Be Bigger Than Ever

One of the most exciting aspects of the project is its planned IMAX presentation.

The original Days of Thunder was built around the spectacle of NASCAR racing, and modern filmmaking technology should allow the sequel to take that experience considerably further.

IMAX cameras and premium large-format presentations could give audiences a much more immersive experience inside the cars, particularly during high-speed racing sequences.

And given Cruise’s reputation for performing elaborate practical stunts, fans will undoubtedly be wondering how far he is willing to go this time.

Cruise has repeatedly demonstrated his willingness to put himself directly into dangerous action sequences, particularly in the Mission: Impossible franchise and Top Gun: Maverick. His return to a racing movie could therefore produce some spectacular practical driving sequences.

Why Days of Thunder Is Returning Now

The timing of the sequel is difficult to separate from the enormous success of Top Gun: Maverick.

Maverick arrived 36 years after the original Top Gun and became a worldwide phenomenon, earning roughly $1.5 billion at the global box office.

That success demonstrated that Cruise could successfully revive one of his classic properties for a modern audience.

Days of Thunder is an obvious candidate for the same treatment.

The original movie already has a recognizable character, an established world, a strong visual identity and a built-in connection to a major American sport. Adding Hathaway and modern racing technology could give the franchise a fresh identity without abandoning its roots.

A New Generation Meets Cole Trickle

Perhaps the most interesting possibility is that the sequel could use Cole Trickle as a bridge between two generations of racing.

Hathaway’s character being a team owner and engineer could place her at the center of a modern racing operation, while Cruise’s Cole could bring decades of experience to the team.

That setup would allow the film to explore how NASCAR and professional motorsport have evolved since 1990.

It could also create a story about experience versus innovation, with Cole representing the old-school racing mentality and Hathaway’s character bringing a more modern technical perspective.

Nothing about the full storyline has been confirmed yet, but the casting certainly leaves room for that kind of dynamic.

The Crossover Idea Already Exists

Here’s where things get particularly interesting.

In 2025, Joseph Kosinski was asked about the possibility of making a movie featuring both Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt following their Interview with the Vampire reunion.

Rather than simply suggesting another action movie, Kosinski proposed something far more ambitious: a crossover between Days of Thunder and F1.

His idea was that Cole Trickle and Sonny Hayes, Pitt’s character from F1, could have a history together. They might have been rivals at some point in their racing careers or crossed paths earlier in their lives.

Kosinski even imagined the two characters eventually going head-to-head on the track.

At the time, the idea was simply a fun pitch from the filmmaker.

Now, with Days of Thunder 2 officially happening, fans have a legitimate reason to revisit that possibility.

When Does Days of Thunder Hit Theaters?

The new Days of Thunder is scheduled to arrive exclusively in theaters on June 2, 2028. Paramount plans to present the film in IMAX alongside other premium formats.

Production is not starting immediately, with Hathaway indicating during the announcement that filming will take place after she gives birth.

That means audiences will likely have to wait some time before seeing the first proper footage from the movie.

For now, the Daytona announcement and the striking first-look image are the beginning of the promotional campaign.

The Engines Are Finally Starting Again

After years of rumors and speculation, the Days of Thunder sequel is no longer just an idea.

Tom Cruise is officially returning as Cole Trickle. Anne Hathaway is joining him as a new race-team owner and engineer. Jonathan Levine is directing. Jerry Bruckheimer is back as producer. And Paramount has set June 2, 2028, as the theatrical release date.

The project has an obvious challenge ahead: convincing audiences that a racing story from 1990 can feel essential in 2028.

But if Top Gun: Maverick proved anything, it’s that Tom Cruise knows how to turn nostalgia into a genuinely large-scale theatrical experience.

This time, instead of fighter jets, he’ll be getting behind the wheel.

Cole Trickle is coming back—and the next generation of Days of Thunder is about to hit the track.