One of Hollywood’s most exciting casting announcements of the year has just landed. Anne Hathaway will hit the road with Tom Cruise as co-lead in the Days of Thunder sequel at Paramount Pictures. Cruise posted a video of him and a very pregnant Hathaway on social media Saturday, announcing the project will be coming out in the summer of 2028.
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The Announcement
Cruise released a promotional image on Saturday celebrating Hathaway’s casting and posing with his co-lead on a NASCAR track. Hathaway said: “I’m going to have this baby and then we are going to make this movie.”
Key Details at a Glance
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Film Title | Days of Thunder (Sequel) |
| Studio | Paramount Pictures |
| Director | Jonathan Levine |
| Producers | Tom Cruise, Jerry Bruckheimer & Tommy Harper |
| Tom Cruise’s Role | Cole Trickle (Returning) |
| Anne Hathaway’s Role | Race Car Team Owner & Engineer |
| Format | IMAX, Dolby Cinema, 4DX |
| Release Date | June 2, 2028 |
| Announcement Date | August 29, 2026 |
The Roles
Cruise will reprise his role as the scrappy driver Cole Trickle, while Hathaway is set to play a racecar team owner and engineer.
The Director
Jonathan Levine, director of Long Shot and Mr. Irrelevant, is confirmed to direct. Cruise is producing alongside Jerry Bruckheimer and Tommy Harper.
The Format
The project will be shot for IMAX screens and released exclusively in theatres for formats including Dolby Cinema and 4DX.
What the Sequel Means for Cruise
The Days of Thunder follow-up is the first significant piece of IP that Cruise will engage with after ramping down the Mission: Impossible franchise. He is also on the hook for another Top Gun movie, and will return to the prestige drama space with this year’s Alejandro González Iñárritu film Digger.
Cruise was first in talks to return for Days of Thunder 2 back in November 2024, with Top Gun: Maverick producer Jerry Bruckheimer also in discussions to return.
The Original Film — A Look Back
Days of Thunder starred Cruise as Cole Trickle, a hotshot dirt track racer recruited into NASCAR by team owner Tim Daland. With the help of crew chief Harry Hogge, Trickle becomes a rising star, developing a rivalry with reigning champ Rowdy Burns, while sparks fly off the track when Trickle falls for neurosurgeon Dr. Claire Lewicki.
Days of Thunder, directed by the late Tony Scott, was released during the summer of 1990 and made $82.6 million domestic and $157.9 million worldwide.
The first film also starred Nicole Kidman, Randy Quaid and John C. Reilly.
Directed by the late Tony Scott, Days of Thunder was not as well-received as Top Gun, his prior collaboration with Cruise, but has become a favourite of motorsports fans.
Original vs Sequel — At a Glance
| Detail | Original (1990) | Sequel (2028) |
|---|---|---|
| Director | Tony Scott | Jonathan Levine |
| Tom Cruise’s Role | Cole Trickle | Cole Trickle (Returning) |
| Co-Lead | Nicole Kidman | Anne Hathaway |
| Producer | Don Simpson & Jerry Bruckheimer | Tom Cruise & Jerry Bruckheimer |
| Studio | Paramount Pictures | Paramount Pictures |
| Format | Standard | IMAX, Dolby, 4DX |
| Box Office (Worldwide) | $157.9 Million | TBA |
Anne Hathaway’s Red-Hot 2026
Hathaway has been on a tear in 2026, with four films in theatres including Mother Mary, The Devil Wears Prada 2, The Odyssey and The End of Oak Street. The expecting movie star will close out the year with the Colleen Hoover adaptation Verity. She has just wrapped production on the Adam Driver military drama Alone at Dawn, and is working on a three-quel to her star-making Disney movie The Princess Diaries.
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FAQs
When is the Days of Thunder sequel releasing?
Paramount Pictures has dated the feature film sequel for June 2, 2028, when Cruise and Hathaway will hit the road almost 40 years after the original Tony Scott film was released.
What role does Anne Hathaway play in the Days of Thunder sequel?
While plot details are unknown, Hathaway is expected to play a team owner and engineer in the upcoming follow-up to the 1990 film.
Who is directing the Days of Thunder sequel?
Paramount tapped Jonathan Levine to direct, fast-tracking the pic as Cruise’s next project.
Will the Days of Thunder sequel be available in IMAX?
The movie will be filmed for IMAX and also available in Dolby cinemas, 4DX and premium large formats.
Is this Tom Cruise’s only major upcoming project?
No. He is also on the hook for another Top Gun movie, and will return to the prestige drama space with this year’s Alejandro González Iñárritu film Digger.
