08/29/26 06:44:00
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08/29 18:42 CDT Tom Cruise announces a follow-up film to 'Days of Thunder' to
hit theaters in 2028
Tom Cruise announces a follow-up film to 'Days of Thunder' to hit theaters in
2028
By MARK LONG
AP Sports Writer
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) --- Tom Cruise stood up from his chair in front of 40
race-car drivers, jumped over a row of potted plants and directly onto a stage.
It was his first of many stunts to come at Daytona International Speedway.
The 64-year-old Cruise announced Saturday he will reprise his role as NASCAR
driver Cole Trickle in a follow-up to "Days of Thunder." He waved the green
flag on it hours before the Cup Series' regular-season finale at Daytona and
then showed up for the pre-race drivers' meeting.
"It's not just about racing," Cruise told the packed room that included NASCAR
executives, fans, corporate sponsors and military personnel. "It's about the
community and the people here. There's something very special about racers and
the whole community. It's a culture, and I was very proud to be able to reflect
that in the first ?Days of Thunder,' and I am honored to share it with the
world. ...
"That's basically what we're going to really go for with this one. Give the
audience that opportunity to understand what it is as a team, as a community,
what it is for NASCAR, and the speed, the excitement and all that danger and
stuff."
Anne Hathaway will co-star as a team owner and engineer in the film scheduled
to be released by Paramount Pictures on June 2, 2028.
Cruise will serve as a producer alongside Jerry Bruckheimer and Tommy Harper.
Jonathan Levine is set to direct the script written by Will Staples.
Bruckheimer, Harper and Staples joined Cruise at the drivers' meeting.
Cruise posed for pictures with anyone who asked and shook hands with military
members before getting whisked away in a black SUV. He was expected to spend
some time during the race on pit road --- about as close to the action as
possible without being behind the wheel.
The Hollywood Reporter reported in November 2024 that Cruise had talked to
Paramount about a follow-up to his 1990 NASCAR racing film. The original was a
critically panned summer blockbuster that was largely lampooned throughout the
NASCAR industry for its exaggeration and overindulgence.
It has since become a cult favorite in NASCAR circles and is still quoted by
race fans to this day.
"Rubbin', son, is racin'" --- the immortal line from crew chief Harry Hogge,
played by Robert Duvall --- still lives on today.
Riding high from his "Top Gun" fame and having grown up racing cars on the
"back streets of Kentucky," Cruise had an idea for a movie based on fast cars
and the characters who raced them. And so began the making of "Days of Thunder."
Cole Trickle was loosely based on the late NASCAR driver Tim Richmond.
Four-time Cup Series champion Jeff Gordon, now vice chairman at Hendrick
Motorsports, openly lobbied for Cruise to bring a "Days of Thunder" sequel to
life.
Gordon and Cruise have become friends over the years --- Cruise showed up at a
2015 NASCAR banquet to honor the retiring Gordon --- which could boost the
prospect of Gordon and Hendrick Motorsports' involvement in a sequel.
The movie introduced NASCAR to a wider audience that had very limited exposure
to stock-car racing before that summer. There had been racing movies before ---
think "Thunder Road," "Grand Prix," "Stroker Ace," or even "Smokey and the
Bandit" --- but none that had depicted NASCAR in such a mainstream style.
NASCAR has seen more swings and misses than checkered flags when it comes to
its portrayal on the big or small screen since "Days of Thunder." For every
"Talladega Nights," there are 10 more bombs such as comedian Kevin James'
ill-fated Netflix's comedy series, " The Crew."
Cruise is a safe bet to deliver a hit --- and to handle many of his own stunts.
He did when in the original and still recalled a memorable one at Daytona.
"Last time I was at this track, actually, I was on the backstraight and I was
shooting with two very heavy cameras traveling --- I don't know, 180 miles an
hour --- and suddenly the hood was off of the car," Cruise said. "The sun is
setting and I'm trying to get all my lines out before we lost the light.
"And, suddenly, the whole car was in flames. It turned from a barbecue to a
bonfire on the backstraight. Couldn't even get the crew to come in and help me
just because radio (communications) didn't work in the backstraight. I hear
that's still possible, correct? You guys didn't fix that. Well, that's good."
___
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