In one of the unimaginable Friday afternoon information dumps of all time, it appears like Tom Cruise is lastly beginning to work on a “Days of Thunder” sequel. The story was damaged by The Hollywood Reporter, which mentioned Cruise is at present in talks with Paramount surrounding manufacturing of a sequel to the 1990 NASCAR movie. After I acquired the push notification I let loose my longest yeah boy ever.
A lot of not-car-focused shops are saying “Days of Thunder” is a little bit of a shocking selection for a sequel, given how the film solely made $157 million off a $60 million price range and had blended critiques, however I don’t suppose it’s shocking — the truth is, I’m shocked that this hasn’t come sooner. Cruise is clearly a automotive man and loves doing his personal stunts, so the considered a contemporary NASCAR film should be tremendous attractive. As THR says, this isn’t the primary time a sequel thought has been floated, however after the success of “High Gun: Maverick” and flicks like “Ferrari” issues have heated up.
Having revived and modernized 1984’s High Gun with 2022’s blockbuster High Gun: Maverick, the actor believes he can work related magic along with his racing drama (which, like the unique High Gun, was a Paramount movie produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Tony Scott). A Thunder revival has been floated earlier than — Paramount as soon as pitched a reboot of the title as a TV present for Paramount+, an concept that Cruise nixed.
“I don’t suppose a [Days of Thunder sequel] is a horrible thought,” added the Paramount supply (the studio declined to remark for this story). “You may need mentioned that revisiting High Gun was a horrible thought. I wouldn’t low cost it.”
Racing movies have develop into score trendy recently, with the success of James Mangold’s 2019 image Ford v Ferrari, Michael Mann’s much less profitable 2023 racing drama Ferrari, and subsequent yr’s F1 — which stars Brad Pitt and is directed by Maverick helmer Joseph Kosinski (who would seemingly be the perfect option to helm Thunder, however one imagines he wouldn’t be too eager on making back-to-back racing films). The glut of latest fast-cars-on-tracks initiatives makes the prospect of resurrecting Thunder much more daunting (think about if Maverick had been launched after three different fighter pilot films), however no less than not one of the different titles particularly discover the world of NASCAR racing, which has a decidedly completely different Americana vibe in comparison with the extra European-based world of Le Mans and Method 1.
The largest issues for now are Cruise’s schedule. He’s at present engaged on the subsequent “Mission: Unattainable” movie, a brand new Iñárritu film, one other “High Gun” sequel, and he’s gonna be taking pictures a film in freakin’ house.
Key components embrace the venture’s script (the studio is out to potential writers now) and the 62-year-old actor-producer’s packed schedule. Cruise is about to start out taking pictures The Revenant filmmaker Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s mysterious subsequent movie for Warner Bros./Legendary, creating a Doug Liman film for Common that’s set in precise house, and he’s creating a sequel to Maverick (which Cruise and Paramount each think about a prime precedence).
“He’s speaking [to Paramount] about High Gun and Days of Thunder,” says a studio insider aware of the discussions. “It’s going to be what comes collectively first by way of a script. It relies on the concept and, in the end, the script.” (Cruise, sources say, has script approval over all of his initiatives).
There aren’t any rumors or leads as to who will probably be writing the script or directing the movie; it’s probably too early for these choices to be made but. As THR factors out, it’s unlikely “Maverick” director Joseph Kosinski would do it regardless of being an apparent selection, as he’s nonetheless filming the Brad Pitt–starring Method 1 film. I’d like to see Christopher McQuarrie take it on, although the director of the latest M:I films could be too targeted on that franchise, because the upcoming eighth film may not be the final one anymore. I’m positive Jerry Bruckheimer will probably be concerned regardless of who’s on the helm. After all, it could be superior to see the brand new “Days of Thunder” be written and directed by newcomers or folks we wouldn’t anticipate. Automobiles are for everybody, and motion films are too.