Tom Cruise And Anne Hathaway To Star In Days Of Thunder 2

Tom Cruise has enjoyed a long and highly successful career as both an actor and producer since rising to international fame in the 1980s. He remains one of Hollywood’s most commercially successful leading men. After beginning with a small role in Endless Love, Cruise solidified his status as a major star with the 1986 classic Top Gun, in which he played U.S. Navy pilot Maverick. Now, the actor is set to revisit another chapter of his early career, with a sequel to Days of Thunder reportedly moving forward more than 35 years after the original film.

Cruise has announced that Anne Hathaway has joined the cast of Days of Thunder 2. The two actors shared the news in a social media video, which also revealed a planned Summer 2028 release window. In the video, Hathaway joked that she would need to have her baby before production begins as the pair shared a lighthearted moment at a NASCAR track.

Paramount Pictures is backing the project, with Cruise returning as NASCAR driver Cole Trickle. Hathaway is set to play a race team owner and engineer.

Jonathan Levine, known for Long Shot, will direct the sequel. Cruise, Jerry Bruckheimer, and Tom Harper are attached as producers.

The original Days of Thunder, released in 1990, followed Cole Trickle after he joined a NASCAR team. He was recruited by wealthy car dealer Tim Daland, played by Randy Quaid, while racing legend Harry Hogge, portrayed by Robert Duvall, came out of retirement to help build a competitive car.

Hathaway is continuing a strong run following a busy 2026, with films including The Devil Wears Prada 2, The Odyssey, and The End of Oak Street among her recent projects. The Colleen Hoover adaptation Verity is also scheduled for release in October. With Hathaway expecting a child, production on Days of Thunder 2 is expected to begin sometime in 2027.