After years of speculation, Tom Cruise is officially returning to NASCAR as Cole Trickle. Cruise confirmed through his official Instagram account that a sequel to Days of Thunder is coming in summer 2028, nearly four decades after the original racing movie arrived in theaters.
Cruise made the announcement alongside Anne Hathaway at Daytona International Speedway. The pair appeared beside a green-and-yellow NASCAR stock car inspired by the original film, carrying Days of Thunder and “Summer 2028” graphics across its side.
Hathaway will co-star in the sequel, while Cruise will reprise his role as Trickle. Paramount Pictures has set a June 2, 2028, theatrical release date, with the movie planned for IMAX and other premium formats.
Filming has yet to begin, and Cruise and Hathaway even joked about the schedule in their announcement video. Hathaway, who is currently pregnant, said she would have her baby before the pair went off to make the movie.
Cole Trickle Is Returning To NASCAR
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The original Days of Thunder was released in 1990 and starred Cruise as Cole Trickle, an ambitious young driver attempting to make his name in NASCAR. Directed by Tony Scott, the film also featured Robert Duvall, Nicole Kidman, Randy Quaid, Cary Elwes, and John C. Reilly.
The movie became a lasting part of automotive pop culture, particularly among racing fans, and its colorful stock cars and on-track action are still instantly recognizable decades later.
Cruise’s involvement in a sequel had previously been reported in July, when he was said to have signed on to the project with Paramount. At that point, the production was reportedly still searching for a director.
Plot details for the sequel remain under wraps, so exactly what brings Trickle back into the NASCAR world has not been revealed.
Could NASCAR Stars Get Involved?
Another intriguing question is whether familiar names from the real NASCAR world will appear, similarly to how real-life Formula One drivers appeared in Brad Pitt’s F1 movie. NASCAR legend Jeff Gordon said in 2025 that he wanted to be involved with a Days of Thunder sequel, although that was before either the movie or Cruise’s return had been officially confirmed.
No involvement from Gordon has been announced, and details surrounding the sequel’s story and wider cast remain scarce. Hathaway’s appearance in Cruise’s announcement at least confirms another major Hollywood name will be part of the project.
‘Days Of Thunder’ Is Officially Coming Back
Cruise previously expressed interest in resurrecting Days of Thunder following the success of Top Gun: Maverick. The parallels are obvious, with both original movies arriving during an important period in Cruise’s career and both becoming enduring favorites within their respective aviation and automotive worlds.
There is still a long wait before audiences find out exactly what a modern Days of Thunder looks like. For now, fans finally have the confirmation they have been waiting for: Cole Trickle is returning, Anne Hathaway is joining him, and Days of Thunder will race back onto the big screen in summer 2028.