Following the box-office success of ‘F1’, motorsport remains firmly in Hollywood’s spotlight. The sequel to ‘Days of Thunder’—the 1990 classic in which Tom Cruise stars as Cole Trickle, a hotheaded rookie chasing glory in NASCAR—is officially in development. The American actor will also produce the feature alongside Jerry Bruckheimer, who produced the original film.

The news was first reported by The Hollywood Reporter. According to the publication, Jonathan Levine is in talks with Paramount to direct the film. Levine boasts a diverse resume, ranging from horror (‘All the Boys Love Mandy Lane’) to comedy-drama (’50/50′). The outlet also reports that Cruise will turn his attention to the ‘Days of Thunder’ sequel immediately following his current commitments.

The script, which remains under wraps, is being penned by Will Staples, whose credits include the Call of Duty video game franchise and the action thriller ‘Without Remorse’. However, it is confirmed that the film will focus on NASCAR, just like its predecessor.

Much like ‘Top Gun’, ‘Days of Thunder’ was directed by the late Tony Scott and starred Cruise in the lead role. Although it did not achieve the same massive commercial height as ‘Top Gun’, the film became a cult classic among racing fans and to this day is considered one of the definitive cinematic portrayals of American stock car racing.

At the 2009 Daytona 500, Tom Cruise posed alongside Rick Hendrick—owner of Hendrick Motorsports—with the No. 46 Chevrolet featured in ‘Days of Thunder’ (Photo: NASCAR)

In the original plot, Cole Trickle is an open-wheel driver who transitions to NASCAR in search of glory. Armed with raw talent and a hot temper, he quickly runs afoul of veteran Rowdy Burns—the character who inspired the nickname for Kyle Busch, the two-time champion and stock car legend who passed away in May—setting off a fierce rivalry until an injury forces the veteran out of the cockpit.

The original film also featured cameo appearances by legendary NASCAR figures, including Richard Petty—the winningest driver in the sport’s history, who also voiced ‘The King’ in ‘Cars’—alongside Rusty Wallace, Neil Bonnett, and Harry Gant. Over the years, numerous teams have paid homage to the movie with throwback tribute liveries.

NASCAR returns to action this Sunday for Round 22 of the 2026 season and the final event of the In-Season Challenge, set at the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway.