Paramount is moving forward with a sequel to the 1990 hit 'Days of Thunder', bringing back Tom Cruise to the cockpit of Cole Trickle and positioning the project as a fresh take on the beloved racing saga.
Reviving a classic racing saga
Jonathan Levine is in discussions to take the director’s chair, while screenwriter Will Staples has been tapped to craft the new script, aiming to capture the high‑speed thrills that defined the original film.
Production is tentatively scheduled to begin in early 2027, with Cruise also attached as a co‑producer alongside veteran Jerry Bruckheimer, ensuring the film benefits from both star power and seasoned studio expertise.
The momentum behind the sequel is being turbocharged by the recent success of the 'F1' film, a connection that filmmaker Joseph Kosinski has hinted could blossom into a crossover event that blends the worlds of Formula 1 and NASCAR storytelling.
NASCAR’s lingering imprint
NASCAR’s historical involvement in the original movie has left a lasting mark, and the sequel is drawing on that legacy as figures such as Kyle Busch, Christopher Bell and Jeff Gordon express excitement, with Gordon already swapping ideas with Cruise about authentic racing details.
The film’s development reflects a broader ambition to fuse high‑octane motorsport spectacle with Hollywood storytelling, a vision that studio insiders say honors the legacy of the 1990 classic while paving the way for a new generation of racing cinema.