Tom Cruise Confirms Days of Thunder 2 and Promises Real NASCAR Racing for the Sequel

Tom Cruise is getting back behind the wheel, and this time he is taking his commitment to racing even further. After proving with Top Gun: Maverick that he was willing to put himself at the center of demanding action sequences, Cruise has now revealed more about his highly anticipated return as Cole Trickle in Days of Thunder 2.

The sequel has officially been confirmed by Paramount Pictures, and Cruise has made one thing clear: Cole Trickle is not simply returning as a former racing champion. He will still be driving fast.

During an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, Cruise opened up about the upcoming movie, his approach to NASCAR sequences and the possibility of honoring the late Robert Duvall. His comments also reveal just how seriously he is approaching the racing scenes.

Tom Cruise Says Cole Trickle Still Drives Fast

Fans wondering what role Cole Trickle will have in Days of Thunder 2 now have an answer.

Cruise confirmed that his character will remain an active driver in the sequel. Speaking about his approach to action movies, the actor explained that he prefers to perform the activity at the center of the story himself.

“If I'm making a movie about planes, I fly. If I'm making a movie about cars, I drive,” Cruise said.

That philosophy has already been a major part of Cruise's work on Top Gun: Maverick, where he spent years training in aerobatics and working with helicopters, jets and airplanes while developing the film's aerial sequences.

For Days of Thunder 2, he wants to bring that same thinking to NASCAR.

Cruise Promises to Drive Real NASCAR Cars

One of the biggest details from Cruise's latest comments is his commitment to driving real NASCAR race cars for the sequel.

Rather than simply relying on the idea of speed, Cruise wants the movement of the cars to become part of the storytelling. He explained that his experience creating aerial sequences for Top Gun: Maverick helped shape the way he is thinking about the racing scenes.

“I've spent years training in aerobatics, from helicopters to jets to airplanes, studying and shooting aerial shots,” Cruise explained.

He added that the team is now exploring NASCAR and the cars by asking a larger storytelling question: “What can I tell with movement?”

That approach could make the racing sequences an important part of how the story develops, rather than simply serving as action moments between dramatic scenes.

Days of Thunder 2 Could Honor Robert Duvall

The sequel will also carry an emotional connection to the original Days of Thunder.

Robert Duvall, who appeared in the first film as Harry Hogge, died in February at the age of 95. During the interview, McAfee asked Cruise about returning to the franchise without Duvall and compared the situation to Val Kilmer's appearance in Top Gun: Maverick.

Cruise did not reveal exactly how Robert Duvall's character or legacy will be handled in Days of Thunder 2. However, his response strongly suggested that the filmmakers are thinking carefully about the late actor's contribution to the original movie.

“I had the opportunity to make two films with Bobby and Val,” Cruise said.

Reflecting on Val Kilmer's presence in Top Gun: Maverick, Cruise described having him on the set as fantastic and emphasized the impact of artists like Duvall and Kilmer.

He then hinted that audiences could see something similar in Days of Thunder 2 in the way Duvall's legacy is represented within the film and its narrative.

“But I don't want to give too much away,” Cruise added.

That comment leaves plenty of mystery around how the sequel will acknowledge Harry Hogge and Duvall's role in the original story.

Anne Hathaway Joins the Racing Story

Days of Thunder 2 will also introduce Anne Hathaway to the franchise.

Hathaway will play a racing team owner and engineer, giving Cole Trickle a new character to work with as the story returns to the world of professional racing.

Cruise had strong praise for his new co-star, describing Hathaway as “enormously talented.”

He also highlighted her abilities across different areas of acting, pointing to her comedic and dramatic skills as well as what he described as her real drive.

The sequel will be directed by Jonathan Levine, known for Long Shot and Warm Bodies, from a screenplay by Will Staples. Cruise is producing the film alongside Jerry Bruckheimer and Tommy Harper.

Why This Matters

Days of Thunder 2 is significant because it brings Cruise back to a role that is closely connected to speed, cars and racing, while giving him another opportunity to use his distinctive approach to action filmmaking.

His comments suggest that real driving and physical movement will be central to the sequel. His experience developing aerial action for Top Gun: Maverick is also influencing how he approaches the NASCAR sequences.

At the same time, Robert Duvall's connection to the original film adds an emotional layer to the return. Cruise has not explained exactly what audiences should expect, but his comments indicate that the legacy of Harry Hogge will not simply be ignored.

With Anne Hathaway joining the story and Cruise once again taking the driver's seat, the sequel is shaping up as a major return to the racing world of Cole Trickle.

When Will Days of Thunder 2 Be Released?

Paramount Pictures is scheduled to release Days of Thunder 2 in IMAX on June 2, 2028.

For now, Cruise is keeping many details about the story under wraps. What he has confirmed is enough to make the sequel particularly intriguing: Cole Trickle will still be driving, real NASCAR cars will be part of the production, and the film may find a meaningful way to honor Robert Duvall.

After Top Gun: Maverick demonstrated what Cruise could bring to a long-awaited sequel, Days of Thunder 2 now has its own opportunity to put that philosophy to the test.

The biggest question is no longer whether Cole Trickle is coming back. It is what Cruise plans to do once he gets back behind the wheel.