Rumours about the sequel of Days of Thunder have been circulating for years. Now this has become reality and racing fans finally have something to talk about. In this sequel of the action film, Tom Cruise is back and not acting alone anymore.
Quick Answer
Yes, Tom Cruise is set to reprise his role as NASCAR driver Cole Trickle in Days of Thunder 2, sequel to the 1990 film. Anne Hathaway is cast as his co-lead. Jonathan Levine directs from a screenplay by Will Staples, with Cruise producing the film with Jerry Bruckheimer and Tommy Harper for Paramount Pictures, which has scheduled its release for 2 June 2028.
Is Tom Cruise Actually Returning for Days of Thunder 2?
Cruise first hinted at a possible sequel back in late 2024, saying that he and his team were “thinking and talking about many different stories” for both Days of Thunder and a further Top Gun film. This summer, Cruise confirmed that the project was going to happen. On 29 August 2026, Cruise shared a photo of himself and Anne Hathaway leaning against a race car at Daytona, declaring that he was going to reprise his role as the hot-headed rookie driver Cole Trickle. The cult classic of 1990 was a huge hit with motor racing fans.
The wait between the first film and the sequel was even bigger than the 36 years between Top Gun and Top Gun: Maverick, which is currently reaping in £1.2 billion at the global box office. Paramount is hoping it will strike gold twice.
Who’s Joining Tom Cruise in the Cast?
Anne Hathaway Signs On as Co-Lead
Anne Hathaway will star opposite Cruise in the film, which she has yet to work with. She has had a busy 2026, starring in The Devil Wears Prada 2 and The Odyssey and The End of Oak Street , and is set to appear in the Colleen Hoover adaptation Verity later this year. However, her role in Days of Thunder 2 has not yet been revealed, although her presence in the film with Cruise suggests a bigger, more star-powered production than the original, which was a lower-budget film centered on a small ensemble that included Nicole Kidman, Robert Duvall, and Randy Quaid.
No other cast members have been confirmed, and it is unclear if Duvall, Kidman, or Michael Rooker will reprise their roles, as Paramount has not yet released any information on the matter.
When Is the Days of Thunder 2 Release Date?
vDays of Thunder 2 is set to hit cinemas on 2 June 2028. Whilst this is a slower release than many fans were hoping for, it is entirely understandable given the need for big budget racing movies to have lengthy production periods in order to make the practical stunts and location filming. The film will be shot for IMAX screens and also get a Dolby release, so prepare for racing sequences that will be made for the biggest screens available.
Who’s Directing and Writing Days of Thunder 2?
Jonathan Levine, director of Long Shot and the football biopic Mr. Irrelevant, is at the helm. The script has been penned by Will Staples, who worked on Without Remorse. Tom Cruise is producing the film himself, alongside Jerry Bruckheimer, who produced the original 1990 film and Top Gun: Maverick, as well as Tommy Harper. This is the same producing partnership that brought in one of the most acclaimed legacy sequels of the past decade, Top Gun: Maverick.
What’s the Plot of Days of Thunder 2?
Paramount Pictures has yet to release any information on the plot of the film. The original movie starred Cole Trickle, a dirt track racer who was recruited into NASCAR by team owner Tim Daland (Randy Quaid) and crew chief Harry Hogge (Robert Duvall). He faces off against reigning champion Rowdy Burns (Michael Rooker) and falls in love with neurosurgeon Dr. Claire Lewicki (Nicole Kidman). With Anne Hathaway and the leap years in between, the film will almost certainly follow an older, established Trickle guiding a young up-and-coming racer into the fold, much like how Maverick gave way to Miles Teller’s Rooster.
How Does This Compare to the Original Days of Thunder?
| Days of Thunder (1990) | Days of Thunder 2 (2028) | |
| Director | Tony Scott | Jonathan Levine |
| Writer | Robert Towne | Will Staples |
| Lead Stars | Tom Cruise, Nicole Kidman | Tom Cruise, Anne Hathaway |
| Producer | Jerry Bruckheimer, Don Simpson | Jerry Bruckheimer, Tom Cruise, Tommy Harper |
| Studio | Paramount Pictures | Paramount Pictures |
Related Questions
Is Days of Thunder 2 connected to Top Gun?
No. The two franchises are separate stories, though Cruise has also mentioned working on further Top Gun sequels alongside this project. Fans online have joked about a crossover, but nothing official has been announced.
What is Tom Cruise’s next film before Days of Thunder 2?
Cruise stars in Digger, directed by Alejandro G. Iñárritu, due in cinemas on 2 October 2026 — well before Days of Thunder 2 begins filming in earnest.
Will Nicole Kidman appear in the sequel?
It hasn’t been confirmed either way. Kidman played love interest Dr Claire Lewicki in the original film, but no returning cast beyond Cruise and Hathaway has been announced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Days of Thunder 2 confirmed?
Yes. Paramount and Tom Cruise confirmed the sequel on 29 August 2026, along with casting news and a release date.
When does Days of Thunder 2 come out?
Days of Thunder 2 is set for release on 2 June 2028.
Who is starring in Days of Thunder 2?
Tom Cruise returns as Cole Trickle, joined by Anne Hathaway as co-lead. Further casting hasn’t been announced yet.
Who is directing Days of Thunder 2?
Jonathan Levine is directing, from a screenplay by Will Staples.
Is this a reboot or a direct sequel?
It’s being developed as a direct sequel, with Cruise reprising his original role decades after the first film, similar to how Top Gun: Maverick continued from the 1986 original.
The Bottom Line
Days of Thunder 2 has seen its gestation period reduced to an astonishingly short time, and with the involvement of big names like Cruise, Bruckheimer and Hathaway, it has all the potential to be an actual event movie. There is still a long way to go before its June 2028 release, so look out for more casting announcements, image glimpses and story details in the near future.
