With the triumph of Top Gun: Maverick and the 2025 release of F1: The Movie, studios are eager to return oval-track action to theaters.
The first film struggled at the box office and drew mixed reviews, yet the original Top Gun also lacked strong critical praise at launch.
The project still needs a lead actor; Nicholas Hoult, who has real racing experience with Ferraris, could be a strong contender.

Following the massive success of Top Gun: Maverick, enthusiasts have pushed for a fresh take on Days of Thunder. The story functions as a NASCAR version of the classic aviation tale and offers plenty of memorable lines, including the famous quip, "Rubbin' is racin'."

The reboot now appears closer to reality, with Tom Cruise and Jerry Bruckheimer signed on as producers and Sundance winner Jonathan Levine in discussions to helm the project. A final title remains undecided.

The strong performance of F1: The Movie has boosted confidence in racing films, though NASCAR may prove harder to market globally than Formula 1. Still, the broad appeal of the Top Gun sequel shows audiences will turn out for high-octane nostalgia.

The original production became legendary for its excess, as producers Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer converted part of a Daytona Beach hotel into a private gym. Costs ballooned well beyond estimates, reviews were lukewarm, yet the film still turned a profit.

Viewers remember the wild beach race scenes where Cruise and rival Michael Rooker pushed stock cars to the limit. Any new version should preserve that signature moment.

Much like the recent Maverick sequel, a revived Days of Thunder can tap into fan memories to deliver a stronger follow-up. Tom Cruise's star power carried the first film; this time he may guide the project from behind the scenes as effectively as he once drove on screen.