Tom Cruise to Return as Cole Trickle in 'Days of Thunder' Sequel Set for 2028

Tom Cruise is set to return to the driver's seat. The actor confirmed on Saturday, from Daytona International Speedway, that he will reprise his role as Cole Trickle in a sequel to the 1990 racing drama 'Days of Thunder.' The announcement came just hours before NASCAR's regular-season finale at the Florida track.

Paramount Pictures has slated the follow-up for a June 2, 2028 release. Anne Hathaway will join the cast as a team owner and engineer. Cruise will produce alongside Jerry Bruckheimer and Tommy Harper, with Jonathan Levine directing from a script by Will Staples.

While the original film was a box-office success, it drew heavy criticism from within the NASCAR community for its dramatized portrayal of the sport. Over time, however, it has become a cult favorite among racing fans, with lines like crew chief Harry Hogge's "Rubbin', son, is racin'" still quoted today.

The character of Cole Trickle was loosely inspired by the late driver Tim Richmond. Jeff Gordon, the four-time Cup Series champion and current vice chairman of Hendrick Motorsports, has been a vocal advocate for a sequel. Cruise and Gordon have developed a friendship over the years, with Cruise appearing at a 2015 banquet honoring Gordon's retirement.

The 1990 film is credited with introducing stock-car racing to a broader mainstream audience. Subsequent attempts to capture NASCAR on screen have had mixed results, with successes like 'Talladega Nights' standing alongside less memorable projects.