The need for speed is back: Cruise reprises his NASCAR driver role alongside Hathaway in a Jerry Bruckheimer production landing in June 2028.
Tom Cruise is strapping back into the driver’s seat. More than three decades after Days of Thunder put NASCAR front and centre in cinemas worldwide, the actor announced he’s returning to the role of Cole Trickle in a follow-up that reunites him with producer Jerry Bruckheimer and adds Anne Hathaway to the grid. The film, announced at Daytona International Speedway, is set for a theatrical release on June 2, 2028.
Hathaway Joins as Team Owner and Engineer
Hathaway—fresh from The Devil Wears Prada 2 and Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey—takes on the role of a team owner and engineer, a character positioned to bring both technical precision and narrative drive to the high-octane premise. Jonathan Levine will direct from a script by Will Staples, while Cruise produces alongside Bruckheimer and Tommy Harper.
The original Days of Thunder arrived in 1990, mixing visceral racing sequences with a romantic subplot and turning Cruise’s Cole Trickle into a cultural touchstone. Its return feels strategically timed: Cruise has spent the last few years doubling down on theatrical spectacle, from Top Gun: Maverick to his upcoming Digger with Alejandro G. Iñárritu, and this sequel promises the same big-screen commitment.
IMAX, Dolby, and Premium Formats
Paramount is rolling out the full premium playbook. Days of Thunder will be filmed for IMAX and released across Dolby Cinema, 4DX, and other large-format screens—a clear signal that this isn’t a streaming play. It’s a theatrical event designed to maximise impact, and given Cruise’s track record with practical stunts and aviation expertise, expect the racing sequences to push technical boundaries.
If you’re the kind of cinemagoer who still believes in the communal thrill of watching a film on the biggest screen possible, mark June 2, 2028 in your calendar. Follow Paramount UK and Tom Cruise for updates as production ramps up.
