Tom Cruise is embarking on an unexpected journey to craft a sequel to one of his iconic action classics, and it's not the one you might have anticipated. The Hollywood icon is in negotiations with Paramount Pictures to breathe new life into his 1990 NASCAR-themed thriller, "Days of Thunder." At first glance, the concept seems audacious. Upon its release, "Thunder" failed to set the box office alight, grossing $157 million worldwide against a $60 million production budget, and garnered a mixed to negative reception from critics. However, Cruise, who successfully revived and modernized the 1986 classic "Top Gun" with the 2022 blockbuster "Top Gun: Maverick," believes he can work his magic once again on his racing saga (a Paramount film, just like the original "Top Gun," produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer, and directed by Tony Scott).
Whispers of a "Thunder" revival have circulated before; Paramount once proposed a reboot of the title as a TV series for its streaming service, Paramount+, an idea that Cruise swiftly dismissed. Crucial factors now include the script's development (the studio is actively seeking potential writers) and the 62-year-old actor-producer's bustling schedule. Cruise is poised to start filming Alejandro G. Iñárritu's mysterious next project for Warner Bros./Legendary, developing a Doug Liman film set in actual space for Universal, and he's also working on a sequel to "Maverick" (which both Cruise and Paramount consider a top priority).
"He's discussing 'Top Gun' and 'Days of Thunder' with Paramount," reveals a studio insider privy to the discussions. "It'll hinge on which script comes together first. It all boils down to the idea and, ultimately, the script" (Cruise, according to sources, has script approval rights for all his projects).
Racing films have regained popularity lately, thanks to the success of James Mangold's 2019 film "Ford v Ferrari," Michael Mann's less successful 2023 racing drama "Ferrari," and next year's "F1" starring Brad Pitt, directed by "Maverick" helmer Joseph Kosinski (who would seemingly be the perfect choice to helm "Thunder," but one wonders if he'd be keen on making consecutive racing films). The abundance of recent fast-car-on-track projects makes the possibility of resurrecting "Thunder" even more challenging (imagine if "Maverick" had been released after three other fighter pilot movies). However, none of these titles delves specifically into the world of NASCAR racing, which boasts a distinctly American vibe, contrasting with the more European-centric world of Le Mans and Formula 1.
"I don't think a 'Days of Thunder' sequel is a terrible idea," adds the Paramount source (the studio declined to comment on this story). "You might have thought revisiting 'Top Gun' was a terrible idea once. I wouldn't write it off."
"Days of Thunder" certainly has its die-hard fans, including Tony Scott collaborator and admirer Quentin Tarantino. "Hands down, my favorite racing movie is 'Days of Thunder,'" the director was quoted as saying in 2013. "Yeah, yeah, you laugh, but seriously, I'm a big fan. Sure, it had a big budget, big stars, and a big director in Tony Scott, but it captured the fun of those early American International Picture racing movies. I just don't think the genre works if you take it all too seriously." "Thunder" is also remembered fondly as the film where Cruise met his former spouse of 11 years, Nicole Kidman, who co-starred as a neurosurgeon and the love interest of Cruise's USAC racer Cole Trickle.
Next in line, the eagerly awaited "Mission: Impossible 8," masterfully penned and directed by the exceptionally talented Christopher McQuarrie, has gracefully concluded its filming phase and embarked on the exhilarating journey of post-production. This grandiose endeavor has traversed a lengthy and challenging terrain, with whispers circulating that its budget has soared towards the staggering $400 million mark. Part of this arduous path was paved with obstacles, notably the 2023 Hollywood strikes that significantly impeded its production timeline, adding to the project's already formidable challenges.
Despite the franchise maintaining its steadfast popularity, with the seventh installment, "Mission: Impossible: Dead Reckoning – Part One," earning widespread acclaim in 2022 (boasting an impressive 94% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes among critics and audiences alike), the preceding film's budget, excluding marketing costs, hovered near $300 million, yet its box office performance was deemed somewhat underwhelming, amassing $566 million globally. Adding an extra layer of complexity to the upcoming film, "Dead Reckoning" concluded on a breathtaking cliffhanger, breaking away from the established tradition where each "M:I" adventure stood as a self-contained narrative, effortlessly welcoming new audiences. In response, Paramount has opted to omit the "Part One" suffix from the seventh film's title.
In the coming weeks, as Paramount unveils the first trailer for "M:I 8," the eagerly awaited title of the new film will be revealed, setting the stage for another heart-pounding chapter in the iconic spy saga.
An intriguing twist unfolds: Paramount Pictures has harbored ambitions to market "M:I 8" as the definitive chapter in this high-octane action saga, a strategic maneuver aimed at igniting public curiosity. However, Tom Cruise has steadfastly resisted the notion of publicly bidding farewell to Ethan Hunt—a stance hardly unexpected from the eerily ageless actor who, in a statement last year, expressed his aspiration to continue crafting "M:I" films well into his octogenarian years. ("Harrison Ford is a living legend, and I've got two decades to emulate his feats," Cruise remarked. "My heartfelt hope is to keep directing 'Mission: Impossible' movies till I reach his age.")
Nonetheless, Paramount remains undaunted and optimistic about "M:I 8," aggressively aiming to debut the film at Cannes—a venture lately perceived as a high-stakes endeavor for big-budget blockbusters, given the festival's critical drubbing of "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" and "Horizon: An American Saga" mere months before their respective theatrical releases. Fortunately, in the case of "M:I 8," the festival aligns neatly just before its worldwide cinematic debut (Cannes spans from May 13 to 24, whereas "M:I 8" hits theaters on May 23). Consequently, any critical darts from France will arrive concurrently or shortly after the film's world premiere and domestic critic screenings.
"Tom's in a prime spot, I'd say," a studio insider remarked. "And 'Mission' is shaping up to be truly exceptional."
