We’ve known for a while that Tom Cruise and producer Jerry Bruckheimer were trying to figure out a way to bring Days of Thunder, and Cruise’s Cole Trickle character, back to the big screen. Well, it could be ready to get out of the starting gate as THR reports Jonathan Levine is in talks to direct the NASCAR racing sequel.
Days of Thunder wasn’t exactly a huge hit when it was released. Directed by the late Tony Scott, the racing film starred Cruise as hotshot young racer Cole Trickle as he looks to make his name in NASCAR, facing down rivals and learning under the tutelage of more experienced racers. The film made $157M worldwide but reviews weren’t pretty, as it drew easy comparisons to Top Gun. “Top Gun on four wheels” I remember it being called at the time.
Levine is an interesting choice, as he’s not known for action movies, but comedies such as Long Shot, Snatched, 50/50, Warm Bodies, The Night Before, and The Wackness. He also directed the cult favorite horror film All the Boys Love Mandy Lane, which was his breakout feature.
Cruise has been eyeing a Days of Thunder sequel since his plan to star in F1 alongside Brad Pitt fell through. The original film was integral to establishing Cruise as a top action star, a role he hasn’t relinquished since.
A script is coming into shape from Will Staples, and if all goes as planned, Paramount wants this to be Cruise’s next project.
