Tom Cruise is getting back behind the wheel as Cole Trickle, and this time, he’ll have Anne Hathaway joining him on the NASCAR circuit.

Days of Thunder 2 has officially announced Hathaway as the newest addition to its cast. Cruise confirmed the news on social media on August 29, sharing a photo of himself and Hathaway posing beside a race car at a NASCAR track and teasing the film’s arrival in summer 2028.

The sequel is scheduled to hit theaters on June 2, 2028, marking the return of Cruise’s character nearly four decades after the original Days of Thunder was released in 1990.

Anne Hathaway joins Tom Cruise in the racing sequel

Cruise, now 64, will reprise his role as Cole Trickle, the ambitious race car driver at the center of the original film.

Hathaway, 43, will take on a new role in the franchise, playing a race car team owner and engineer. Further details about her character and the sequel’s plot have not been revealed.

Jonathan Levine is set to direct the Paramount Pictures production. Cruise will also serve as a producer alongside Tommy Harper and Jerry Bruckheimer.

At this point, it remains unclear whether any other members of the original cast will return.

Cruise announced the casting alongside the caption, “Days of Thunder. Summer 2028,” immediately sparking excitement among fans who had been hoping to see Cole Trickle return to the track.

What happened in the original Days of Thunder?

Released in 1990 and directed by Tony Scott, Days of Thunder followed Cole Trickle as he transitioned from open-wheel racing to NASCAR.

Cole quickly found himself in a heated rivalry with Rowdy Burns, played by Michael Rooker. Their competition took a serious turn after a crash sidelined both drivers, but the experience eventually brought them together and turned their rivalry into a friendship.

Cole then faced a new challenge in the form of Russ Wheeler, played by Cary Elwes.

The original film featured Cruise alongside Nicole Kidman, Robert Duvall, John C. Reilly, Michael Rooker, Cary Elwes, Donna W. Scott and Randy Quaid, among others.

Whether any of those characters will return for the sequel remains unknown.

Fans are already excited for Days of Thunder 2

Cruise’s announcement quickly generated enthusiastic reactions from fans on Instagram.

Some viewers celebrated the return of Cole Trickle after years of wanting a sequel, while others joked about experiencing the high-speed action in IMAX. Hathaway’s involvement also drew attention, with fans noting how busy the actress has been with new projects.

For now, the reunion of Cruise and Hathaway is the major confirmed casting news, while details about the story and additional returning stars remain under wraps.

Days of Thunder 2 is scheduled to hit theaters on June 2, 2028.

Days of Thunder is streaming on Pluto TV and Paramount+.

Source: https://www.tvinsider.com/