On August 26, 2025, director Joseph Kosinski announced plans for a crossover sequel featuring Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt. This film will blend elements from “Days of Thunder” and Formula 1 racing.
During an interview with Collider, Kosinski described the ambitious project as “tricky” but expressed enthusiasm for reuniting the duo, who last co-starred together in 1994’s “Interview with the Vampire”. This announcement has generated excitement among fans and industry insiders alike.
Kosinski proposed a story in which Cruise’s character, Cole Trickle, a 1990s NASCAR icon from “Days of Thunder”, crosses paths with Pitt’s character, Sonny Hayes, from Formula 1.
The moment Tom Cruise surprised us on the #F1TheMovie red carpet! ❤️#F1 pic.twitter.com/1Ika62mWmC
— Formula 1 (@F1) June 23, 2025According to Variety, the storyline takes place in the high-octane world of Formula 1 racing. Kosinski told Collider, “Sonny Hayes returns to F1 and bumps into his old rival, Cole Trickle.” He described producing this concept as a “Mission: Impossible,” but noted that it builds on their previous collaboration during a 2019 table read of Ford v Ferrari at Cruise’s home, as The Hollywood Reporter reported.
The pitch leverages Hollywood’s global box office, valued at $200 billion. Sports films are becoming increasingly popular, as reported by Box Office Mojo. With a combined career earnings total of $1.2 billion, Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt have a broad appeal, with fans commenting, “Cruise and Pitt in F1? Iconic!” Furthermore, Joseph Kosinski’s impressive track record, including the $1.5 billion gross of “Top Gun: Maverick”, adds to the project’s potential, per Deadline.
Kosinski acknowledged the logistical challenges involved, highlighting the “tricky” nature of aligning two A-list stars and merging their franchises, according to ScreenRant. The idea fits into the 2025 trend of nostalgic sequels, which has seen a 25% increase in legacy reboots, as reported by Variety. However, the project requires studio backing to come to fruition.
