Tom Cruise has been announced to reprise his role as NASCAR driver Cole Trickle in a follow-up to the 1990 film ‘Days of Thunder.’ Anne Hathaway is joining the cast as a co-lead, playing a racing team owner and engineer. The follow-up is scheduled for U.S. theatrical release on June 2, 2028.
Key Changes
The biggest changes in this announcement are Anne Hathaway’s addition and Tom Cruise’s return as Cole Trickle. Paramount Pictures has set June 2, 2028, as the planned release date. The Paramount media release reported by TheWrap lists the title as ‘Days of Thunder’ and does not use ‘2’ or a separate subtitle.
Current Status
The follow-up will be directed by Jonathan Levine and written by Will Staples. Tom Cruise, Jerry Bruckheimer, and Tommy Harper will serve as producers.
Paramount Pictures’ official page for the original describes ‘Days of Thunder’ as a 1990 film. However, a dedicated official webpage, official trailer, and production stills for the follow-up have not been confirmed at this time.
The information currently available focuses on the cast, planned release date, key crew members, and exhibition formats.
Impact
The follow-up is being developed with IMAX screenings in mind and is also planned for premium large formats, including Dolby Cinema and 4DX. The news is therefore notable not only because the casting has been specified, but also because the theatrical presentation plans have become more concrete.
Anne Hathaway’s specific character name, detailed plot, and filming schedule have not yet been confirmed. Based on the publicly available information alone, it is not possible to determine the plot or whether production has been completed.
What to Watch Next
The next points to monitor are production progress, whether a dedicated official webpage or trailer for the follow-up is released, and whether Paramount’s planned June 2, 2028 release date changes. The schedule may change depending on future production circumstances.
Source Verification
- [The Associated Press — Tom Cruise announces a follow-up to ‘Days of Thunder’ to hit theaters in 2028](https://apnews.com/article/days-of-thunder-nascar-tom-cruise-8515e8b485c878cb67d9495a093fa43d) (checked September 1, 2026)
- [Variety — Anne Hathaway Joins Tom Cruise in ‘Days of Thunder’ Follow-Up; Paramount Sets Release Date](https://au.variety.com/2026/film/global/anne-hathaway-tom-cruise-days-of-thunder-sequel-39820/) (checked September 1, 2026)
- [TheWrap — Anne Hathaway to Star in ‘Days of Thunder 2’ With Tom Cruise](https://www.thewrap.com/creative-content/movies/anne-hathaway-to-star-days-of-thunder-2-tom-cruise/) (checked September 1, 2026)
- [Paramount Pictures — Official page for the original Days of Thunder](https://www.paramountpictures.com/movies/days-of-thunder) (checked September 1, 2026)