NASCAR isn’t treating the Days of Thunder sequel like a side project. The sport is producing more than 80 race cars for the film, and CEO Steve O’Donnell told Front Office Sports that some of them aren’t expected back, because they’re getting wrecked on camera. Tom Cruise returns as Cole Trickle, Anne Hathaway joins the cast, filming begins March 2027, and the movie opens June 2, 2028.
Cruise announced the sequel himself in an August 29 social media post, and his pitch to NASCAR was direct: the film will put the sport in front of an entirely new audience. He reportedly even asked to race in a real event for authenticity. O’Donnell doubts that happens, which is probably the responsible call.
The wrecked cars may end up displayed around the country and overseas to build interest before release. For Suncoast racing fans, that raises a hopeful thought: a piece of Hollywood racing history could pop up at a local event one day. Until then, there’s plenty of time to revisit the 1990 original and argue about whether the sequel can capture that same magic. What’s your favorite scene from the original film?
