Tom Cruise stands as Hollywood's last true-blue movie star, performing death-defying stunts and sacrificing personal comfort to preserve the theatrical cinema experience for global audiences. His commitment to practical effects and authentic action sequences defines an era increasingly dominated by digital shortcuts and streaming releases.

Cole Trickle, Cruise's adrenaline-junkie NASCAR driver from the 1990s Days of Thunder, mirrored the actor's own risk-taking personality and love for high-speed competition. Decades later, that passion remains undiminished.

As Cruise cannot wait to get into the race car and lap around Daytona again in the upcoming sequel.

Speaking recently on the New Heights podcast while promoting Digger, Tom Cruise addressed the new Days of Thunder project with unmistakable excitement.

“Get me in that race car again man, please!” he said while also adding.

“That movie’s going to be fun. I can’t wait,” at the podcast. The enthusiasm comes as Paramount prepares to bring Cole Trickle back nearly four decades after the original. Cruise will reprise the role and produce the film alongside Jerry Bruckheimer and Tommy Harper.

Anne Hathaway has joined the cast as a NASCAR team owner and engineer, giving the story a new character at the center of its racing world. Jonathan Levine is directing from a screenplay by Will Staples. The sequel is being prepared for IMAX, with Paramount setting a June 2, 2028 theatrical release. 

“I Shaved My Head Without Telling the Director”- Tom Cruise Remembers His ‘Taps’ Character Decision

With Cruise already eager to return to the track, his next film could shape the momentum leading into that high-speed reunion.

Before Tom Cruise gets back into Cole Trickle's cockpit, he has Digger arriving in theaters on October 2, 2026. Alejandro González Iñárritu directs the dark comedy, with Cruise playing billionaire Digger Rockwell, a powerful figure attempting to save humanity after triggering a catastrophic disaster.

The ensemble includes Sandra Hüller, Riz Ahmed, John Goodman, Jesse Plemons and Michael Stuhlbarg. The film has already generated attention for Cruise's unusual transformation and demanding prosthetic work. Early tracking reported by Matthew Belloni puts the domestic opening projection at $20 million, while the production budget has been reported at $125 million.

Those figures provide an early commercial benchmark ahead of its October release and they do not paint a good picture, with some critics pointing out that its not good enough for a Tom Cruise movie. For now, Cruise has another kind of challenge waiting. He is heading back toward the NASCAR circuit, and his message is clear: he wants that race car again.

“I Expect a Lot and I’m Upfront About It” – Tom Cruise Openly Embraces His Intense On-Set Reputation

What do you think about Tom Cruise returning as Cole Trickle in Days of Thunder 2? Let us know in the comments.