Tom Cruise’s New Movie Confirmed: Sequel to His 1990 Iconic Hit Is In The Works

Jeff Gordon, the famous NASCAR driver and vice chairman of Hendrick Motorsports, recently shared some exciting news about a sequel to the iconic racing movie Days of Thunder.

When asked about the possibility of a follow-up to the 1990 film, Gordon laughed and said, “I mean, all I can say is … I’ve known Tom [Cruise] for many years, and was on set this past year for Mission: Impossible, and then I went to the premiere. And the first word out of his mouth is, ‘We’re doing it. We’re doing Days of Thunder 2.’”

Gordon made it clear that both he and Rick Hendrick, owner of Hendrick Motorsports, fully support the project. He added, “Hendrick Motorsports played a big role in the first Days of Thunder, and we’d love to do the same in this one.”

The original Days of Thunder is a well-known movie that made a big impact on NASCAR back in the 1990s. Gordon believes the sequel could have the same effect by bringing in new fans and growing the sport. He explained, “Look what Days of Thunder did for NASCAR in the ’90s. I think it could very easily do the same if we were able to do this again.”

The first Days of Thunder starred Tom Cruise and featured real NASCAR drivers. It was famous for its racing scenes and the music by Hans Zimmer. While critics had mixed feelings about the film’s story, audiences loved it, giving it an “A” grade in CinemaScore.

The film’s director, Tony Scott, played a major role in making the movie memorable. After his death in 2012, some critics said Days of Thunder was an important moment in American film history. The film marked a shift in how studios worked with producers and directors.

Quentin Tarantino, a well-known filmmaker, even called Days of Thunder his favorite big-budget racing movie. He said, “To me Days of Thunder is the movie Grand Prix and Le Mans should have been.”

In 2024, producer Jerry Bruckheimer praised the original film, saying, “[It] was a terrific film. Tom was great in it.”

The movie Days of Thunder was not based on a true story, and it’s not a biography. But the main character, Cole Trickle, was loosely inspired by the real racing careers of Tim Richmond and Geoff Bodine. Some scenes in the movie are based on real events and people from NASCAR history.

For example, there is a scene where Big John tells Cole and Rowdy they will drive to dinner together. This was inspired by a real meeting in the 1980s between Dale Earnhardt Sr. and Geoff Bodine, arranged by Bill France Jr.

Richard Childress and Dale Earnhardt Jr. said the movie showed the rivalry between Earnhardt Sr. and Bodine. In one scene, Cole purposely blows his engine by pushing it too hard. This was based on something Tim Richmond did during his last race in 1987 at Michigan.

With all this support and excitement, fans of racing and movies can look forward to Days of Thunder 2. Jeff Gordon’s words make it clear that this sequel isn’t just about nostalgia, it’s about bringing new energy and fans to NASCAR.

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