- 1990 hit film “Days of Thunder” may get a sequel
- Tom Cruise reportedly in talks with Paramount Pictures about a sequel
- New film may be years away, as “Top Gun: Maverick” sequel has priority
Tom Cruise may have to learn all about rubbin' again, as word on the street is that he's planning to reprise his role as Cole Trickle in a “Days of Thunder” sequel, similar to how he successfully returned as Pete "Maverick" Mitchell in 2022's “Top Gun: Maverick.”
The Hollywood Reporter, citing a source at Paramount Pictures, the studio behind the original 1990 hit, reported on Nov. 1 that Cruise is in talks with the studio about a sequel to the cult classic NASCAR film.
In the original, Cruise's character is a promising open-wheel racer from California, who makes the switch to NASCAR because of a lack of funds to pursue his dream of becoming a successful IndyCar driver. He eventually finds his feet in the world of stock car racing, and with the help of his team, goes on to win the Daytona 500.
However, Cruise is now 62, and a new Days of Thunder movie is likely still some years away, even if it receives the green light. According to The Hollywood Reporter, a script still needs to be hammered out, and Cruise also has a busy schedule due to other projects, including a third "Top Gun" movie, which was confirmed by Cruise early this year.
Tom Cruise, Red Bull Racing
Given his age, Cruise is unlikely to return as a race car driver in the new movie. However, just like in "Top Gun: Maverick," Cruise's character could return to guide a younger crew.
Filming might take place during actual NASCAR races, which is what the film crew did during production of the original film. It adds a level of realism, which is why many racing movies follow this route. Last year, production of Apple's upcoming Formula 1 movie starring Brad Pitt took place during some actual F1 rounds, including the British Grand Prix.
This isn't the first time that a "Days of Thunder" sequel has made headlines. There were rumors a few years back of the movie being turned into a series for the Paramount+ streaming service, but Cruise reportedly nixed that idea.
"Days of Thunder" has achieved cult-classic status over the years, inspiring real-life NASCAR driver Kyle Busch to produce his own spoof video, and even motivating coders to reconstruct a long-lost video game based on the movie.
