The long-awaited sequel to Days of Thunder, released in 1990, is taking shape. According to recent reports, Paramount Pictures is in negotiations with Jonathan Levine to direct this installment, with Tom Cruise reprising his role as Cole Trickle, the young NASCAR driver who originally captivated audiences.
The script for the new film will be written by Will Staples, although details about the plot have yet to be revealed. Filming is expected to begin in early 2027, with Cruise as a co-producer, along with the original producer, Jerry Bruckheimer, who recently worked on the successful Formula 1 movie starring Brad Pitt.
Conversations about the sequel have gained momentum following the success of the F1 film, which grossed over 600 million dollars. Joseph Kosinski, the director of the F1 movie, even suggested a possible collision between the world of Sonny Hayes (Pitt’s character) and Cole Trickle during an interview with GQ.
Before his tragic death in May, NASCAR legend Kyle Busch participated in talks with a screenwriter to help design the new film. His alias, ‘Rowdy’, referred to the character from the original movie, a detail that showed the interests and connections with the NASCAR community.
Drivers like Christopher Bell have expressed their excitement, believing that the new installment could present a more serious and sincere drama about the world of NASCAR, in contrast to the 2006 comedy, Talladega Nights, which has been criticized for its caricature of the championship.
NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon, a longtime friend of Cruise, has spoken with him about the possibility of revitalizing Days of Thunder with a modern approach, similar to what was done with Top Gun: Maverick, released 36 years after the original.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
