Anne Hathaway is joining Tom Cruise in Paramount Picturesâ new Days of Thunder movie, with the studio setting a June 2, 2028 theatrical release. Cruise will reprise NASCAR driver Cole Trickle, while Hathaway is set to play a race-team owner and engineer in a follow-up arriving nearly four decades after the original film.
The announcement gives the project its clearest shape yet. Jonathan Levine is directing, Will Staples wrote the screenplay, and Cruise is producing alongside Jerry Bruckheimer and Tommy Harper. Paramount is also building the film for premium theaters, including IMAX, Dolby Cinema and 4DX.
Tom Cruise and Anne Hathaway announce "Days of Thunder 2". In theatres June 2, 2028. pic.twitter.com/GgOxwW69So
— Space of Cinema (@spaceofcinema) August 29, 2026
Days of Thunder 2 release date
Paramount has scheduled Days of Thunder 2 for June 2, 2028. The date puts Cruise back in the role of Cole Trickle almost 38 years after the original Days of Thunder opened in 1990.
The studio plans an exclusive theatrical release, with the movie being shot for IMAX screens. Dolby Cinema, 4DX and other premium large-format presentations are also planned, signaling that the racing sequences will be a major part of the filmâs appeal.
Who is Anne Hathaway playing?
Hathaway will play a race-team owner and engineer, placing her character directly inside the technical and competitive side of the NASCAR world.
Her characterâs name has not been revealed, and Paramount has not explained how she will connect with Trickle. There is also no confirmation that she will be his rival, employer or romantic interest, so those possibilities remain speculation.
The role adds another major production to Hathawayâs busy slate. She is also playing Penelope opposite Matt Damon in Christopher Nolanâs The Odyssey.
Tom Cruise returns as Cole Trickle
Cruise will again play Cole Trickle, the ambitious stock-car driver introduced in Tony Scottâs 1990 film.
One of the biggest unanswered questions is what Trickleâs career looks like decades later. Paramount has not said whether he will still be racing, managing a team, mentoring another driver or taking on a different role in modern NASCAR.
That gap gives the filmmakers room to update the franchise. Racing technology, safety systems, data analysis and team operations have changed dramatically since the first movie, creating a very different environment for Trickle to enter.
Who is directing Days of Thunder 2?
Jonathan Levine, whose credits include 50/50, Warm Bodies and Long Shot, will direct. Will Staples wrote the screenplay.
Cruise is producing with Jerry Bruckheimer and Tommy Harper. Bruckheimer also produced the original film with Don Simpson, giving the new project a direct creative link to the 1990 production.
Variety reported that Hathaway will star opposite Cruise and that the movie is being designed for IMAX and other premium theatrical formats.
What is Days of Thunder 2 about?
A full plot has not been announced. The confirmed story information is limited to Cruise returning as Trickle and Hathaway playing a race-team owner and engineer.
There is no confirmed main rival, racing team, championship storyline or younger driver at this stage. That is important because many details circulating around the sequel remain assumptions rather than officially announced story points.
Is Nicole Kidman returning?
Nicole Kidman has not been confirmed for the sequel. She played Dr. Claire Lewicki in the original movie, but Paramount has not announced her return.
There is also no confirmed comeback for Robert Duvall, Michael Rooker, Cary Elwes or John C. Reilly. Additional casting announcements are likely to show how closely the new movie will connect with the original ensemble.
Lazy Thinking Sydney Closes as Live Music Venue Faces Rental Crisis
What happened in the original Days of Thunder?
The 1990 movie followed Trickle as he entered NASCAR and worked with veteran crew chief Harry Hogge, played by Robert Duvall. After a serious crash involving rival Rowdy Burns, Trickle eventually returned to competition and raced at Daytona.
The cast included Cruise, Duvall, Kidman, Randy Quaid, Michael Rooker, Cary Elwes and John C. Reilly. Robert Towne wrote the screenplay and Tony Scott directed.
The movie earned about $82.6 million in North America and $157.9 million worldwide, establishing a lasting connection between Cruise and racing cinema.
Anne Hathaway has joined Tom Cruise in âDAYS OF THUNDER 2.â pic.twitter.com/2BMFtJkNXK
— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) August 29, 2026
Days of Thunder. Summer 2028. pic.twitter.com/l7tWBQVONm
— Tom Cruise (@TomCruise) August 29, 2026
Why the sequel matters now
The project arrives after Cruise successfully revisited another decades-old role with Top Gun: Maverick. But Days of Thunder 2 has a different challenge: it must make Cole Trickle relevant to modern audiences while still giving longtime fans a meaningful continuation of the original story.
Cruise is simultaneously moving into different creative territory, including his work with Alejandro Gonzålez Iùårritu on the upcoming film Digger.
For now, the most important details are confirmed: Anne Hathaway is joining Tom Cruise, Cruise is returning as Cole Trickle, Jonathan Levine is directing, and Days of Thunder 2 is scheduled to race into theaters on June 2, 2028.
Make Swikblog your go-to source on Google for reliable updates, smart insights, and daily trends.
