Days of Thunder 2 - Tom Cruise Reunites with Cole Trickle and More
Tom Cruise prepares for more than one return as his most famous characters
Tom Cruise returns to the wheel as Cole Trickle, but this time he will have a presence beside him destined to change the balance of the story. In Days of Thunder 2, Anne Hathaway will indeed be present, chosen to star alongside the actor in the new chapter of the racing saga.
The announcement came directly from Cruise, who shared images on social media from Daytona with Hathaway, both next to a NASCAR car. On the same occasion, the American release date was also set: June 2, 2028.
A New Adventure for Cole Trickle
Days of Thunder. Summer 2028. pic.twitter.com/rD3QLXfUyi
— Tom Cruise (@TomCruise) August 29, 2026
Plot details remain under wraps, but the actress is expected to play a figure directly linked to Trickle's team, with both managerial and technical skills. A choice that could take the character into a different narrative territory compared to the 1990 film, when Nicole Kidman was by his side. Jonathan Levine will direct, having taken over after Paramount decided to accelerate the project's development. Will Staples penned the screenplay, while Cruise will produce the film alongside Jerry Bruckheimer and Tommy Harper.
The first Days of Thunder, directed by the late Tony Scott, arrived in cinemas in the summer of 1990 and grossed $157.9 million worldwide, applauded but also criticized. Cruise will thus reunite with his character almost forty years later, but not Robert Duvall, who passed away in February 2026 and was unforgettable in the role of Harry Hogge. It remains to be seen whether other past cast members, such as Michael Rooker or Cary Elwes, will reprise their roles.
The sequel will be filmed in IMAX and will also be released in Dolby Cinema, 4DX, and other major premium formats. And for Cruise, the returns don't stop there: Top Gun 3 is also already confirmed.