At a recent gathering in Daytona, Tom Cruise sparked laughter when he recalled a harrowing moment from the 1990 classic *Days of Thunder*, when his car erupted in flames while filming a high‑speed sequence at the speedway.
A Legacy Re‑Ignited
The sequel, officially titled *Days of Thunder 2*, will see Cruise reprise his iconic role as Cole Trickle, this time paired with Oscar‑winner Anne Hathaway, who will play a team owner and engineer navigating the modern NASCAR landscape.
Producers have announced that principal photography is slated to begin early next year, with a targeted summer 2028 theatrical release, promising a fresh look at the sport’s blend of speed, strategy and camaraderie.
During the original shoot, a malfunction in radio communication left the crew unable to reach Cruise on the back straight, and the hood of his vehicle detached at roughly 180 mph, igniting a blaze that he later joked about when asking today’s drivers whether the track’s lingering issues had been resolved.
The film aims to capture not only the raw danger of superspeedway racing but also the culture of teamwork that defines NASCAR, using the historic Daytona International Speedway as a backdrop for its climactic finale.