With his previous legacy sequel proving to be a runaway critical and commercial hit, Tom Cruise is eyeing a legacy sequel toDays of Thunder. The 1990 sports drama about a hot-shot racecar driver getting to join NASCAR saw Cruise reunite with hisTop Gundirector Tony Scottand producing duo Jerry Bruckheimer and Don Simpson. Similar to their prior movie, to which it was frequently compared,Days of Thundergarnered largely mixed reviews from critics, but was a box office success and has garnered a cult following in the years since.
The Hollywood Reporterhas brought word thatCruise is in early development on aDays of Thundersequel with Paramount. The move comes just over two years after he and the studio finally releasedTop Gun: Maverickto much fanfare, with the studio currently in talks with both the producer/star and various writers in order to develop the story and script. Sources report that the sequel hinges on Cruise’s schedule, and his approval of the idea and script of the potential follow-up.
What This Means For TheDays Of ThunderSequel
While his success withTop Gun: Maverickdoes make sense for him to revisit the property to some degree,Cruise returning forDays of Thunder 2is still a long way from actually happening. Arguably the biggest factor in the movie’s overall chances of happening is the producer/star’s busy schedule, currently set up for three different movies,one of them beingTop Gun 3, which the above report also says is a “top priority” for both Cruise and Paramount.
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BeyondTop Gun, Cruise is also attached to Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s mystery movie at Warner Bros., which is expected to begin filming between the time of writing and next month, and reuniting with Doug Liman for an action movie shot in space. The former project is also deemed a major one for him as it’s not only his first with the studio in a decade,but is also part of his new first-look deal with Warner Bros. to produce original and franchise films. One such franchise movie is expected to bethe long-awaitedEdge of Tomorrow 2, which he and Liman have also been toying with for years.
Aside from his schedule, which also includes the upcomingMission: Impossible 8, Cruise’s approval for scripts will also be a key factor inDays of Thunder 2’s development, which could actually lead to a similarly long wait asTop Gun: Maverick. Considering the 2022 sequel was co-written by Cruise’s longtime collaborator Christopher McQuarrie,it may actually behoove both him and the studio to consider turning to theMission: Impossiblevet for a pitch. Even if he doesn’t write the sequel, having him develop the story could set up another writer and filmmaker for success.
Our Take On Days Of Thunder’s Potential Sequel
Cruise Really Shouldn’t Rush It
As much asthe long wait forTop Gun: Maverick’s releasemay have become something of a running concern with the already-extensive gap from its predecessor, Cruise’s push for it to be in theaters was ultimately the right call as it proved more than worth the wait. Therefore, ifDays of Thunder 2does in fact move forward, it’s important that he takes the same patient approach to developing the sequel as he didTop Gun.
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Top Gun 3 hasn’t been confirmed yet, but making the film would be a bad idea, even though the success of Top Gun: Maverick suggests it would work.
This feels even more prudent considering the firstDays of Thunderis not generally regarded as highly asTop Gun, even by audiences, who only gave it a 60% on Rotten Tomatoes, a far cry from the latter movie’s 83%. Forcing a sequel to it would prove more disappointing if it can’t live up to the same heights asMaverick, and considering Cruise is already somewhat moving away from Paramount to work with WB, I would hope he would only reunite with the studio for a project that was worthwhile.
Days of Thunder
Cast
Days of Thunder, directed by Tony Scott, stars Tom Cruise as Cole Trickle, a young and talented race car driver entering the high-stakes world of NASCAR. The 1990 film follows Trickle’s journey as he forms a pivotal partnership with legendary crew chief Harry Hogge, portrayed by Robert Duvall. Together, they navigate the competitive circuit, facing fierce rivalries and personal challenges in their pursuit of victory.
