Tom Cruise is returning as Cole Trickle in Days of Thunder 2. The actor will reprise his role from the 1990 NASCAR film for the upcoming sequel. The film also stars Anne Hathaway as an owner and engineer. Cruise is also producing the film alongside Jerry Bruckheimer and Tommy Harper. It is scheduled to be released in theaters on June 2, 2028.
The 64-year-old actor recently discussed the project and his love for NASCAR on The Pat McAfee Show. He has been interested in racing since childhood. He revealed that he drove cars on country roads before he even had his license. Cruise said, “I’ve been thinking about Cole Trickle for a long time. I love this sport.” He noted that his interests also extend to motorcycles and airplanes.
The Top Gun actor is also committed to performing the driving himself. He said, “If I’m making a movie about airplanes, I’m flying… or in this case, I’m driving.” His hands-on approach has become a major part of his action filmmaking, and he wants to bring that same level of authenticity to the NASCAR sequel.
What Tom Cruise wants to change with Days of Thunder 2
Cruise does not want Days of Thunder 2 to repeat the original film. Instead, he hopes to immerse audiences in NASCAR and help them understand the people and culture behind the sport. He said, “After the first one, I’ve just been thinking about how can I do it, how can I seat the audience into another journey with this character.”
His approach is influenced by his work on aviation films. The American actor explained that he spent years training, studying aerial photography, and figuring out how motion could help tell a story. He now wants to apply that experience to NASCAR. The 64-year-old said, “We’re creating stories like, ‘What can I tell with the motion?'” He added, “Those are things that I’m looking at with NASCAR with these cars.”
Cruise also emphasized that he loves NASCAR’s culture and it will be an important part of the sequel. He described the film as a “real immersive cultural story” that will combine racing with the personalities and teamwork surrounding the sport.
Anne Hathaway’s character will add another layer to the story. She will play an owner and engineer, giving the sequel a perspective beyond the driver’s seat. Cruise described Hathaway as “enormously talented” and said her character helped him find a way into the story. He said, “She has comedy chops and dramatic and just real voltage as an artist.”
With Days of Thunder 2 taking shape, Cruise wants to create something fresh while celebrating the NASCAR world he has loved for years.
Originally reported by Isha Sharma on ComingSoon.
