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Days of Thunder 2
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Tom Cruise announced 'Days of Thunder 2' with Anne Hathaway, set for June 2, 2028. The sequel revives his 1990 NASCAR role, tapping nostalgia and star power.
Background
The original 'Days of Thunder' (1990) starred Tom Cruise as NASCAR rookie Cole Trickle, grossing $157.9M worldwide. After decades of speculation, Paramount fast-tracked a sequel with Jonathan Levine directing and Jerry Bruckheimer producing. The announcement came on the day of the 2026 Coke Zero Sugar 400 at Daytona, linking the film to its racing roots.
How it unfolded
- Aug 29, 2026Tom Cruise announced the sequel on social media with a photo of himself and Anne Hathaway at Daytona, confirming her casting and a June 2, 2028 release date.
- Aug 29, 2026Paramount confirmed Jonathan Levine as director, Will Staples as writer, and Jerry Bruckheimer, Tommy Harper, and Cruise as producers.
- recentlyProduction is expected to begin early next year, with Hathaway set to play a team owner and engineer.
Who’s saying what
- Analysts
- Edd Straw of The Race says the timing is perfect, riding on F1: The Movie's coattails and Tom Cruise's star power, with potential to surpass the original.
- Caution
- Some note that legacy sequels often drop the '2' in titles, as Paramount's release simply calls it 'Days of Thunder,' following trends like 'Halloween' and 'Scream.'
Still unverified
Plot details are scarce; Hathaway's role as team owner and engineer is based on reports, not officially confirmed by Paramount.