It feels like we’ve been hearing whispers about Cole Trickle getting back behind the wheel forever, but Tom Cruise and Anne Hathaway finally put the rumors to rest last month by confirming Days of Thunder 2.
The catch is that you'll have to wait a bit to see it, though as Paramount just penciled in a June 2, 2028 theatrical date. This is likely so that Hathaway can give birth to her third child and safely return to full health.
Prior to the video announcement in August, it was revealed that director Jonathan Levine had signed on to helm the project back in July (and that news came after NASCAR legend Jeff Gordon previously teased the project a full year prior).
Recently, Cruise appeared on ESPN's The Pat McAfee Show to discuss the sequel, and Entertainment Tonight has the recap.
"We're going for it, and I feel like we really got something," said Cruise to the former NFL kicker.
He also shed some light on Anne Hathaway's character in the project, revealing that she's going to be the owner and engineer of the race car that Cole Trickle drives. That is, if Trickle is still a race driver and not a crew chief or something similar- plot details are being kept under wraps for now.
Cruise went on to state, "I found a way in, technically- even with the aviation, when we tell those stories, I spent years training in aerobatics, training in helicopters, jets, airplanes, and studying aerial photography and creating aerial photography. So we're creating stories [with the premise] of what can I tell with the motion? Those are the things that I'm looking at with NASCAR, with these cars. I love the culture; it's a real cultural, immersive story that's going to have racing and we're going to be creating knowledge as we go along."
Well, to McAfee's credit, he tried to get the scoop on this, and Cruise confirmed that Trickle will be behind the steering wheel.
"Oh, he's driving it," said Cruise to McAfee's inquiry. "Here's the thing, If I'm making a movie about airplanes, I'm flying."
Cruise will next be seen in Digger, which hits theaters October 2. In addition to Days of Thunder 2, he's also attached to the Christopher McQuarrie-directed Broadsword and a third Top Gun film. One also has to wonder if there's another Mission: Impossible film lurking somewhere in that list of upcoming film.
In Days of Thunder, the film centers on Cole Trickle (Tom Cruise), a talented but inexperienced open-wheel driver who’s recruited by team owner Tim Daland (Randy Quaid) to take on the high-stakes world of NASCAR. Partnered with seasoned crew chief Harry Hogge (Robert Duvall), Cole struggles to adjust to the demands of stock car racing and build trust with his team.
His aggressive style sparks a heated rivalry with reigning champ Rowdy Burns (Michael Rooker), culminating in a dramatic crash that sidelines them both. During his recovery, Cole begins a romance with neurosurgeon Dr. Claire Lewicki (Nicole Kidman) and confronts his insecurities on and off the track. As his comeback looms, Cole finds himself challenged by his ambitious replacement, Russ Wheeler (Cary Elwes).
When Rowdy is forced to retire due to his injuries, he entrusts Cole with driving his car in the Daytona 500. With Harry back in his corner, Cole must push past fear, rivalry, and self-doubt to seize victory on racing’s biggest stage.