It's official: Cole Trickle is back!
Earlier this weekend, Tom Cruise officially confirmed his next film, Days of Thunder 2, a sequel to his 1990 racing classic, and revealed that the long-awaited action sequel will arrive in theaters on June 2, 2028.
In the fun announcement video, he also revealed that Oscar-winner Anne Hathaway (The Odyssey; The Devil Wears Prada; The End of Oak Street) will join him for the second chapter, playing a team owner and engineer that will presumably bring Cruise's Trickle aboard her team. Further plot details are currently under wraps, but it seems filming won't begin for a more months as Hathaway is currently pregnant with her third child.
Jonathan Levine (Long Shot; Warm Bodies; Mr. Irrelevant) has been tapped to direct, with a screenplay from Will Staples (Without Remorse; Shooter; The Right Stuff). Cruise is also attached as a producer, alongside Jerry Bruckheimer and Tommy Harper.
Following the announcement, Cruise made a surprise appearance at the Daytona International Speedway during the NASCAR Cup Series drivers' meeting, and teased what he's hoping to achieve with the follow-up. "It's not just about racing. It's about the community and the people here. There's something very special about racers and the whole racing community. It's a culture, and I was very proud to be able to reflect that in the first Days of Thunder, and I am honored to share it with the world. That's basically what we're going to really go for with this one."
While Cruise had been rumored for a number of projects over the past year, the Days sequel seemed to pick up serious steam in recent months and must've piqued his interest enough to choose to move forward with it over his other enticing options. However, with a 2028 release date set, it'll be interesting to see whether he's able to squeeze in a film in 2027
Hathaway is certainly an exciting addition to the core cast, and is coming off a huge summer, which saw her star in four films: Mother Mary, The Devil Wears Prada 2, The Odyssey, and The End of Oak Street. She also has the psychological erotic thriller Verity due out in theaters this October, where it'll coincidentally open opposite Cruise's Digger.
Tony Scott helmed the original Days of Thunder, which grossed over $157.9 million at the worldwide box office, starred Cruise alongside Robert Duvall, Randy Quaid, Nicole Kidman, and Cary Elwes.
Days of Thunder 2 will race into theaters June 2, 2028!
Check out the official announcement below:
Digg or die. DIGGER. Only in theaters October 2. #DiggerMovie