In one of the vital unimaginable Friday afternoon information dumps of all time, it feels 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 presently in talks with Paramount surrounding manufacturing of a sequel to the 1990 NASCAR movie. Once I bought the push notification I set free my longest yeah boy ever.
A number of not-car-focused shops are saying “Days of Thunder” is a little bit of a shocking alternative for a sequel, given how the film solely made $157 million off a $60 million funds and had blended opinions, however I don’t suppose it’s shocking — in truth, I’m shocked that this hasn’t come sooner. Cruise is clearly a automobile man and loves doing his personal stunts, so the considered a contemporary NASCAR film should be tremendous engaging. As THR says, this isn’t the primary time a sequel concept has been floated, however after the success of “Prime Gun: Maverick” and films like “Ferrari” issues have heated up.
Having revived and modernized 1984’s Prime Gun with 2022’s blockbuster Prime Gun: Maverick, the actor believes he can work comparable magic together with his racing drama (which, like the unique Prime 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 concept,” added the Paramount supply (the studio declined to remark for this story). “You might need mentioned that revisiting Prime Gun was a horrible concept. I wouldn’t low cost it.”
Racing movies have change into score trendy these days, 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 current 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 not 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 System 1.
The most important issues for now are Cruise’s schedule. He’s presently engaged on the following “Mission: Not possible” movie, a brand new Iñárritu film, one other “Prime Gun” sequel, and he’s gonna be taking pictures a film in freakin’ area.
Key components embrace the challenge’s script (the studio is out to potential writers now) and the 62-year-old actor-producer’s packed schedule. Cruise is about to begin 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 area, and he’s creating a sequel to Maverick (which Cruise and Paramount each think about a high precedence).
“He’s speaking [to Paramount] about Prime 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 is dependent upon the concept and, finally, the script.” (Cruise, sources say, has script approval over all of his initiatives).
There are not any rumors or leads as to who can be writing the script or directing the movie; it’s doubtless 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 alternative, as he’s nonetheless filming the Brad Pitt–starring System 1 film. I’d like to see Christopher McQuarrie take it on, although the director of the latest M:I films could be too centered on that franchise, because the upcoming eighth film won’t be the final one anymore. I’m certain Jerry Bruckheimer can be concerned irrespective of who’s on the helm. After all, it might be superior to see the brand new “Days of Thunder” be written and directed by newcomers or individuals we wouldn’t anticipate. Automobiles are for everybody, and motion films are too.
