A highly-anticipated project featuring Tom Cruise is officially moving forward, and NASCAR fans can rejoice. Days of Thunder 2 is set to move into production.
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According to The Hollywood Reporter, Paramount is set to make the NASCAR drama Cruise's next project. Will Staples is writing the script after previously working on such projects as Call of Duty 3: Modern Warfare, Without Remorse, and Need for Speed: Rivals.
Along with confirming that the project is moving forward, The Hollywood Reporter also provided details about the man who will lead the film. The outlet has listed Jonathan Levine as the director.
Levine has worked on numerous projects throughout his career. He previously directed 50/50 with Seth Rogen and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. He also directed Warm Bodies, Longshot, and The Night Before. He most recently directed the psychological thriller series Nine Perfect Strangers.
Some of Levine's other upcoming projects include a sequel to Dirty Dancing and Mr. Irrelevant: The John Tuggle Story.
The details of Days of Thunder 2's story remain unknown as the project remains in the early stages. The expectation is that it will continue to follow Cole Trickle, the former open wheel racer who became a NASCAR Cup Series winner after overcoming many hurdles.
Cruise played Trickle in the 1990 film, and he worked alongside a stacked cast of actors. This group included late Robert Duvall, Nicole Kidman, Michael Rooker, Randy Quaid, John C. Reilly, and Cary Elwes.
Rumors of Days of Thunder 2 moving forward began to seriously ramp up back in March. The Sports Business Journal reported that a Hollywood writer had attended multiple NASCAR Cup Series events. This included the 2025 championship race at Phoenix Raceway and the season-opening Daytona 500.
SBJ's sources also said that the writer had visited multiple race shops throughout the Charlotte area while meeting with team owners and drivers. The purpose of these visits was to develop a plot for the upcoming film.
These reports followed NASCAR Hall of Famer Jeff Gordon making multiple comments about how he wants to see a sequel to the racing film, and he wants Hendrick Motorsports to be involved once again. The championship-winning team played a major role in the production of the first film.
"I've absolutely talked to Tom (Cruise) about it because I want him to do the project, and we (Hendrick Motorsports) want to be a part of it if it were to happen," Gordon said in February 2025.
"He seems to like to tease it, so I don't know. We'll see what happens. If that doesn't happen, I feel pretty confident there's a project out there that will get NASCAR back on the big screen, if not just a really cool docuseries or something beyond even what we're already seeing right now."
