Anne Hathaway joins Tom Cruise in 'Days of Thunder' sequel, out Summer 2028
Synopsis
More than 30 years after the original, Tom Cruise is heading back to the NASCAR circuit — and this time Anne Hathaway is in the pit lane with him. The Days of Thunder sequel, targeting Summer 2028, pairs one of Hollywood's most bankable stars with an Oscar winner in a role that flips the franchise's gender dynamic. If Top Gun: Maverick is any precedent, the nostalgia math could be enormous.
Key Takeaways
Tom Cruise will reprise his role as NASCAR driver Cole Trickle in the Days of Thunder sequel, targeting Summer 2028 .
Anne Hathaway , an Academy Award winner, joins the cast as a team owner and engineer — her first appearance in the franchise.
Jonathan Levine directs from a script by Will Staples ; Jerry Bruckheimer and Tommy Harper produce.
Hathaway, expecting her third child with husband Adam Shulman , confirmed production will begin after her delivery.
The original Days of Thunder ( 1990 ) was directed by the late Tony Scott and produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer .
Anne Hathaway is set to join Tom Cruise in the long-awaited sequel to the 1990 NASCAR drama Days of Thunder, with the film slated for a Summer 2028 release. Cruise reprises his role as hot-headed racer Cole Trickle, while Hathaway steps in as a team owner and engineer — marking her entry into the franchise.
The Announcement
Cruise revealed the project via his official Instagram handle, posting a video in which he and Hathaway appear together, laughing as they jointly break the news. The post was captioned: 'Days of Thunder. Summer 2028.' No exact release date has been confirmed beyond the summer window.
Hathaway, who is expecting her third child with husband Adam Shulman, addressed the timing directly in the clip. 'I'm going to have this baby, and then we're going to make this movie,' she said.
Key Creatives Behind the Sequel
Jonathan Levine will direct the sequel, working from a script by Will Staples. Veteran producer Jerry Bruckheimer — who produced the original alongside the late Don Simpson — returns for the follow-up, joined by Tommy Harper in a producing capacity.
The original Days of Thunder was directed by the late Tony Scott and featured a primary cast that included Robert Duvall, Randy Quaid, Cary Elwes, Caroline Williams, and Michael Rooker.
What the Sequel Means for Both Stars
For Cruise, the sequel adds to an already packed slate. He is next expected on screen in Digger, opposite Sandra Hüller. The return to the NASCAR circuit continues his pattern of revisiting beloved franchise roles — most recently demonstrated with the Top Gun: Maverick phenomenon in 2022, which grossed over $1.49 billion worldwide and renewed appetite for his legacy IP.
Hathaway, an Academy Award winner, brings considerable box-office credibility to the project. She has a busy upcoming pipeline that includes Verity, Alone at Dawn, and Princess Diaries 3. Her casting as a team owner and engineer signals the sequel intends to centre a strong female perspective within the NASCAR world — a notable shift from the original's male-dominated ensemble.
Background: The Original Film
Released in 1990, Days of Thunder followed Cole Trickle's turbulent rise through the NASCAR circuit, blending high-speed racing sequences with personal drama. Produced by Simpson and Bruckheimer and directed by Tony Scott, the film was a commercial success and cemented Cruise's status as a bankable action lead of that era. The sequel arrives more than three decades later, banking on nostalgia and the proven formula of legacy sequels.
With production expected to begin after Hathaway's delivery, all eyes will be on whether the sequel can replicate the cultural impact of the original when it arrives in Summer 2028.
Point of View
Whose filmography leans toward character-driven mid-budget fare, can deliver the visceral NASCAR spectacle the franchise demands is an open question. The real precedent here is Top Gun: Maverick — if that $1.49 billion lesson holds, studios will keep greenlighting Cruise's legacy IP as long as he keeps showing up. The Summer 2028 window is aggressive given Hathaway's pregnancy, but Hollywood has learned to build schedules around its biggest assets.
NationPress
30 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is in the cast of the Days of Thunder sequel?
The Days of Thunder sequel stars Tom Cruise, reprising his role as NASCAR driver Cole Trickle, alongside Anne Hathaway, who plays a team owner and engineer. Producer Jerry Bruckheimer and Tommy Harper are also attached to the project.
When will the Days of Thunder sequel release?
The film is targeting a Summer 2028 release. No exact date has been confirmed as of the announcement.
Who is directing the Days of Thunder sequel?
Jonathan Levine is directing the sequel from a script written by Will Staples. The original 1990 film was directed by the late Tony Scott.
Why did Anne Hathaway mention having a baby before filming?
Hathaway is expecting her third child with husband Adam Shulman. In the announcement video posted on Tom Cruise's Instagram, she said, 'I'm going to have this baby, and then we're going to make this movie,' indicating production will begin after her delivery.
What else do Tom Cruise and Anne Hathaway have coming up?
Cruise is next expected in Digger, co-starring Sandra Hüller. Hathaway has several projects in the pipeline, including Verity, Alone at Dawn, and Princess Diaries 3.
