Anne Hathaway explains why Days of Thunder 2 with Tom Cruise is personal for her
Anne Hathaway says joining Tom Cruise’s Days of Thunder 2 wasn’t just another gig, and opens up about the personal reason behind her August decision.
Right, so here we go again: Hollywood has dusted off another 90s cult film, and this time it's Days of Thunder getting the sequel treatment. Yes, really — there's a Days of Thunder 2 on the way, with Anne Hathaway stepping in for a top-billed role alongside Tom Cruise, who you may recall absolutely loves a good fast car on screen. News started to trickle out in 2024, but Hathaway officially climbed on board in August. Now she's opened up a bit about why this one actually matters to her — and it sounds rather less cynical than you might think.
Days of Thunder 2 is coming to US cinemas on 2 June 2028.
What's drawn Hathaway back to racing
Hathaway chatted about the sequel in a recent sit-down with ScreenRant, and, honestly, it wasn't the usual bland actor-talking-points spiel. The Family Guy veteran (and now racer, apparently) said Tom Cruise saw something in her that fit this as-yet-unknown character, and she was quick to let on that yes, even Oscar winners can get a bit starstruck working with Cruise. She also dropped that there's a family twist to her enthusiasm — her lot are, apparently, massive car and racing fans. So, she gets to live the dream and call it work. Can't knock it.
Speaking to ScreenRant, Hathaway explained, "I just feel like I'm the luckiest girl in the world. He [Cruise] just saw something in me that he wants for this character. And I couldn't be more thrilled. My family, we just love cars. We love racing. And so, I can't believe this now gets to be my job."
The announcement of Hathaway joining landed in August, and Paramount didn't waste time locking in a firm release date as well. She's leaning into the hype too — when the interviewer noted everyone's getting a bit giddy about the prospect, Hathaway shot back with "Don't be late!" Presumably referring to the cinema, not just the finish line.
Who's steering this thing?
The original Days of Thunder — you know, the 1990 stock-car action hit with Cruise, Nicole Kidman as Dr. Claire Lewicki, and the late Tony Scott on directing duties — had a mixed ride with critics at first, but over time people went a bit mad for it. It became one of those films people who love their cars just have to stick on every few years.
But as for the sequel: plot details are locked up tighter than a pit lane before a rollover. We don't even know if any of the cast (Kidman included) from the old gang are set to return. What we do know: Jonathan Levine, the bloke behind Long Shot (2019) and Mr. Irrelevant (2026), is directing. The script is coming from Will Staples, who worked with Cruise on Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation. So at the very least, Cruises knows what he's getting.