Paramount is moving forward with a Days of Thunder sequel, studio reports say.
Production leadership and creative direction
The studio is courting Jonathan Levine to direct, while Tom Cruise—who played rookie speedster Cole Trickle in the 1990 original—will star and co‑produce. Jerry Bruckheimer, noted for the 2023 box‑office hit F1 starring Brad Pitt, also joins the production side.
Will Staples is scripted as the screenwriter. Bruckheimer and Cruise are set to share co‑producer duties, mirroring their partnership on recent high‑profile projects.
Timing and shooting schedule
Filming is slated to begin in early 2027, giving the team a two‑year window to pre‑produce, secure locations, and assemble the crew.
Industry buzz and talent support
NASCAR representatives played an integral role in the 1990 film, even deploying camera‑equipped vehicles to the Daytona 500 start line. The new effort has generated interest from current drivers: Kyle Busch and Joe Gibbs Racing’s Christopher Bell, who see the sequel as a grounded drama that could elevate the sport beyond the comedic tone of 2006’s Talladega Nights. Jeff Gordon, a longtime friend of Cruise, has discussed a revival that echoes the success of Top Gun: Maverick.
Shot‑by‑shot, the production is looking to draw from the surge in global appetite for motorsport cinema after F1 grossed over $600 million worldwide. In a 2025 GQ interview, director Joseph Kosinski suggested a crossover story linking Brad Pitt’s character Sonny Hayes with Cole Trickle, a concept the writers are exploring.
As discussion continues, the franchise’s original collaborators and new talent are poised to craft a sequel that balances nostalgia with contemporary racing storytelling.
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