‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Director Pitches an Exciting ‘F1’ and ‘Days of Thunder’ Crossover to Reunite Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise
‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Director Pitches an Exciting ‘F1’ and ‘Days of Thunder’ Crossover to Reunite Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise
Fans of Hollywood’s biggest stars may soon get a thrilling on-screen reunion of Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise—courtesy of Top Gun: Maverick director Joseph Kosinski. In a recent interview with GQ UK, Kosinski revealed an inventive pitch to bring the former co-stars together again through a crossover event that combines Cruise’s 1990 NASCAR classic Days of Thunder with Pitt’s high-octane F1 character Sonny Hayes.
Kosinski, who has worked closely with Cruise on Oblivion (2013) and Top Gun: Maverick (2022), outlined the concept: “It’d be Cole Trickle, who was [Cruise’s] Days of Thunder character. We find out that he and Sonny Hayes have a past. They were rivals at some point, maybe crossed paths.” The idea imagines a high-stakes racing rivalry uniting two iconic characters from different eras of motorsport films, offering a fresh playground for Cruise and Pitt’s undeniable star power.
Cruise and Pitt last shared the screen in the 1994 cult classic Interview with the Vampire, a gothic horror film that marked Pitt’s breakthrough and solidified Cruise’s superstar status. Since then, the two have not appeared in a film together, making Kosinski’s pitch all the more tantalizing for fans.
At the Mexico City premiere of F1, Pitt was asked about the possibility of working with Cruise again. With trademark humor, he said, “Well, I’m not going to hang my ass off airplanes and s–t like that, so when he does something again that’s on the ground.” Kosinski’s crossover idea fits that bill perfectly, centering on ground-based racing drama rather than airborne stunts.
Kosinski also referenced a legendary off-screen moment: “I heard about this epic go-kart battle on Interview With the Vampire that Brad and Tom had, and who wouldn’t pay to see those two go head-to-head on the track?” It’s a playful nod to the actors’ camaraderie and competitive spirit, adding fuel to the excitement surrounding the potential project.
Interestingly, Cruise has reportedly been developing a Days of Thunder sequel at Paramount, announced last November. Could Kosinski’s crossover pitch inspire the direction of that sequel? With his strong ties to both Cruise and Pitt—and his proven track record directing high-octane spectacles like Top Gun: Maverick and F1—Kosinski is uniquely positioned to helm such a venture.
Their renewed camaraderie was on full display when Cruise made a surprise appearance at the European premiere of F1, joining Pitt on stage and posing for photos. Cruise later shared a photo of the two on Instagram, captioning it, “Great night at the movies with my friends!! You guys crushed it!!”
While nothing is officially greenlit yet, Kosinski confirmed that a Top Gun: Maverick sequel is currently in development, with Ehren Kruger, who wrote F1, penning the script. “Like all things, it takes a while to work things out, and we’ll only do it if we feel like we’ve got a strong enough story,” Kosinski said.
For now, fans can dream of a racing showdown between Cole Trickle and Sonny Hayes—an electrifying fusion of two racing worlds, and a long-awaited reunion between two of Hollywood’s most charismatic leading men.
