Latest news with #DaysOfThunder
Yahoo
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Universal Pictures Promotes Niels Swinkels To Focus Features International Distribution President
Universal Pictures International's EVP and Manager Director Niels Swinkels will now add President, International Distribution, Focus Features, to his current role as EVP & MD, Universal Pictures International. Swinkels began as a Marketing Director at Universal in 2004. He was then appointed VP of Sales & Distribution for the EMEA region in 2006 before being promoted to SVP of the same region in 2009. He then spent four years as Managing Director of the UK and Ireland before being named EVP International Distribution in 2014. He was promoted into his current role in January 2021. More from Deadline 'Jurassic World Rebirth' Has Bigger Boom In Global Opening With $322M+: How Universal Pulled It Off 'Jurassic World Rebirth': Dinosaur Gets Bigger With $36M+ Saturday; 5-Day Opening Now Roaring To $147M+; Promo Campaign Clocks $150M - Update 'Jurassic World Rebirth' Now Looking At $137M+ 5-Day Over July 4th Stretch; 'F1' $83M+ First Week Beats Entire Run Of 'Days Of Thunder' - Update Swinkels started his film industry career at PolyGram Filmed Entertainment in The Netherlands, where he served in various roles before serving as the marketing manager at Universal Pictures Benelux. From 2000 -2004, he was managing director of Independent Films Netherlands. The exec is a native of The Netherlands. Here's the internal email from Veronika Kwan Vandenberg, President of Distribution for Universal Pictures International on Swinkels promotion: Dear Team, Since I joined Universal five years ago, Niels Swinkels has played a significant role in helping me build and reshape the Universal Pictures International (UPI) team to maximize the performance of our international slate. He has also extended his leadership to Focus Features, helping to strengthen the impact of their global slate as the world's leading specialty studio. Today, I'm pleased to share that Niels has been promoted and will now add President, International Distribution, Focus Features, to his current role as EVP & MD, Universal Pictures International. In this capacity, Niels will continue to work closely with Focus Features' Chairman, Peter Kujawski, and the Focus senior leadership team to further their position in the marketplace. Over the past few years, Niels has played an essential role on all global releases, partnering with the Focus team to bring alignment to their international slate, amplifying the label's brand across the international markets and providing guidance on films to greenlight, while also helping to maximize Helen Parker's Content Group titles across the globe. For UPI, Niels will continue to report to me on all matters related to delivering the strategic direction of UPI's theatrical distribution and rollout of films across Universal Pictures, Focus Features and DreamWorks Animation. On behalf of Kujo and myself, we are grateful to have a leader such as Niels, whose collaborative spirit, extensive knowledge of the international markets and deep industry relationships will continue to be invaluable in giving our collective film slate the best opportunities to succeed internationally. Please join us in congratulating Niels on his well-deserved new role. Best, Veronika Best of Deadline The Story Behind Homer's 'The Odyssey': Illustrated Artworks Of The Legendary Tales Related To Gods, Monsters & Odysseus' Epic Return 2025 TV Series Renewals: Photo Gallery 2025 TV Cancellations: Photo Gallery
Yahoo
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tom Cruise Celebrates ‘Days of Thunder' as ‘F1' Director Teases Possible Crossover Sequel
Tom Cruise is embracing the need for speed… but not of the 'Top Gun' variety. On X June 27, Cruise wrote a congratulatory message to producer Jerry Bruckheimer, who not only is the man behind this weekend's box office hit 'F1,' but also the Cruise-starring NASCAR film 'Days of Thunder' — released in theaters 35 years to the day of the new Brad Pitt-led Formula One action drama. 'I always love the fun and adrenaline of a racing film,' Cruise wrote. 'Today marks two racing milestones for my friend Jerry Bruckheimer, the release of 'F1' and the 35 year anniversary to the day of our collaboration with the great Tony Scott on 'Days of Thunder.'' More from IndieWire Ari Aster Says 'We Have No Say' in How AI Will Impact the World: It's 'Already Too Late' How Victoria Mahoney's Groundbreaking 'Star Wars' Directing Gig Guided Her Work on 'The Old Guard 2' Cruise posted a series of photos from the production of 'Days of Thunder,' all on the race track. 'Incredible to look back on this film today, and congratulations to Jerry, Brad, Joe and the whole F1 team on their release,' Cruise added. The comparisons between Cruise and Pitt's action prowess was also made earlier this month at the 'F1' premiere, when Pitt responded to the suggestion that he star alongside his fellow box office champ in a 'Mission: Impossible'-style thriller. 'Well, I'm not gonna hang my ass off airplane shit like that,' he said in an interview with E! News. 'When he does something again that's on the ground.' The pair have known one another for decades, and racing has helped define their friendship since the beginning — albeit in not quite as high stakes a venue. 'He's sweet,' Pitt said of Cruise. 'Yeah, we did have our go-cart days back in the '90s,' though he said that Cruise usually beat him on the go-cart track. 'F1' director Joseph Kosinski, who also led 'Top Gun: Maverick' in 2022, said there is a possibility 'Days of Thunder' could be woven into a future 'F1' sequel. 'Well, right now, [the sequel would] be Cole Trickle, who was [Cruise's] 'Days of Thunder' character,' Kosinski told GQ (via Movieweb). 'We find out that he and [Brad Pitt's] Sonny Hayes have a past. They were rivals at some point, maybe crossed paths… 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?' Pitt and Cruise almost paired together in a racing drama based on the book 'Go Like Hell' by A.J. Baime. In 2013, THR reported that Pitt and Cruise were in talks to star in that movie, which would take six more years to actually make it to the screen. Even before that, the project had been through several potential incarnations, with Pitt rumored to be on the casting list as early as 2009. In the end, neither would end up starring in the movie, and 'Go Like Hell' was a title that eventually was scrapped, too. It instead became 'Ford v. Ferrari,' starred Christian Bale and Matt Damon, netted four Oscar nominations (including Best Picture), and raked in over $225 million at the box office. Best of IndieWire Guillermo del Toro's Favorite Movies: 56 Films the Director Wants You to See 'Song of the South': 14 Things to Know About Disney's Most Controversial Movie Nicolas Winding Refn's Favorite Films: 37 Movies the Director Wants You to See
News.com.au
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Tom Cruise returns to another popular 80s blockbuster
Tom Cruise is developing a sequel to another of his 80s blockbuster hits, after the success of Top Gun Maverick. With all the adrenaline, spectacular stunts, humour and heart of the first blockbuster, Top Gun Maverick also had an all-action storyline of bombs and baddies to beat Bond. When the sequel came out, it had been 36 years since we last saw Tom Cruise slipping out of his shirt and into his aviators as test pilot Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell in the original. And it was a great success, which is likely why the Hollywood star has now decided to develop another sequel to one of his 80s blockbuster films. Jerry Bruckheimer, co-producer to the F1 movie, has confirmed that a sequel to Days of Thunder is in the pipeline, which will of course star Tom. Days of Thunder is a 1990 American sports action drama film which is still beloved by NASCAR fans today. There has been a lot of hope for a sequel, as well as speculation, after Tom, 62, uploaded a throwback photo on X to mark the 35th anniversary of working with late director Tony Scott. Speaking about Days of Thunder 2 in an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Jerry said: 'Well, there's always new technologies. There's always new ways to do things and to see things, and Tom is such a great individual - comes up with phenomenal ideas. 'So we'll have something really exciting for an audience once we pull it together.' Former NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon has also addressed a Days of Thunder 2 being made. The chairman of Hendrick Motorsports said: 'Let's do Days of Thunder 2, I am all for that. Tom Cruise has told me it's gonna happen, so let's make it happen. 'I can't go back to driving, I am too old for that, so gonna have to be one of our four or all four of our Hendrick drivers, Alex Bowman, Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, William Byron. When I came into NASCAR, Days of Thunder had just come out. It played a huge role in the growth of NASCAR. 'So let's bring it back.' The US actor is always pushing the limits when it comes to his work. In May, he clambered onto the roof of the 82ft BMI Imax cinema — home to Britain's biggest screen — in a stunt to promote his latest film. Wrapped around the building in Waterloo, South London, was a giant advert for the movie, Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning. The 62-year-old Top Gun star was in the capital to receive an honorary British Film Institute Fellowship, the organisation's highest award.
The Sun
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Tom Cruise developing sequel to another of his 80s blockbuster hits after Top Gun Maverick success
TOM Cruise is developing a sequel to another of his 80s blockbuster hits, after the success of Top Gun Maverick. With all the adrenaline, spectacular stunts, humour and heart of the first blockbuster, Top Gun Maverick also had an all-action storyline of bombs and baddies to beat Bond. 6 6 When the sequel came out, it had been 36 years since we last saw Tom Cruise slipping out of his shirt and into his aviators as test pilot Pete 'Maverick' Mitchell in the original. And it was a great success, which is likely why the Hollywood star has now decided to develop another sequel to one of his 80s blockbuster films. Jerry Bruckheimer, co-producer to the F1 movie, has confirmed that a sequel to Days of Thunder is in the pipeline, which will of course star Tom. Days of Thunder is a 1990 American sports action drama film which is still beloved by NASCAR fans today. There has been a lot of hope for a sequel, as well as speculation, after Tom, 62, uploaded a throwback photo on X to mark the 35th anniversary of working with late director Tony Scott. Speaking about Days of Thunder 2 in an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Jerry said: 'Well, there's always new technologies. There's always new ways to do things and to see things, and Tom is such a great individual - comes up with phenomenal ideas. 'So we'll have something really exciting for an audience once we pull it together." Former NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon has also addressed a Days of Thunder 2 being made. The chairman of Hendrick Motorsports said: 'Let's do Days of Thunder 2, I am all for that. Tom Cruise has told me it's gonna happen, so let's make it happen. Stars turn out for F1 The Movie premiere in London with Lewis Hamilton, Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt wowing fans 'I can't go back to driving, I am too old for that, so gonna have to be one of our four or all four of our Hendrick drivers, Alex Bowman, Chase Elliott, Kyle Larson, William Byron. When I came into NASCAR, Days of Thunder had just come out. It played a huge role in the growth of NASCAR. 'So let's bring it back." The US actor is always pushing the limits when it comes to his work. In May, he clambered onto the roof of the 82ft BMI Imax cinema — home to Britain's biggest screen — in a stunt to promote his latest film. Wrapped around the building in Waterloo, South London, was a giant advert for the movie, Mission: Impossible — The Final Reckoning. The 62-year-old Top Gun star was in the capital to receive an honorary British Film Institute Fellowship, the organisation's highest award. 6 6 6
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Days of Thunder 2: Tom Cruise Sequel Gets Exciting Update
has received an exciting update. Days of Thunder is a 1990 sports drama movie directed by Tony Scott. The film sees Tom Cruise play a race car driver named Cole Trickle who wants to make a name for himself in the world of NASCAR, while Robert Duvall, Randy Quaid, Nicole Kidman, Michael Rooker, John C. Reilly, and Cary Elwes also star. It was reported in November 2024 that Cruise was talking to Paramount about potentially making a Days of Thunder 2, though the sequel has not been officially confirmed at this time. Cruise reaffirmed that the project was still being discussed in May 2025. NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon, who has known Cruise for many years, is now saying that the project is definitely happening and moving forward. '[I] was on set this past year for Mission: Impossible, and then I went to the premiere,' Gordon said, via Road & Track. 'And the first word out of [Cruise's] mouth is, 'We're doing it. We're doing Days of Thunder 2.' I'm all for it. Rick Hendrick is all for it. Hendrick Motorsports played a big role in the first Days of Thunder, and we'd love to do the same in this one.' Gordon added, 'Again, you look at things that can help grow the sport. Look what Days of Thunder did for NASCAR in the '90s. I think it could very easily do the same if we were able to do this again.' No other details about the project are available at this time. The synopsis for the first Days of Thunder movie reads, 'In the fast-paced world of NASCAR, a rivalry brews between rookie hotshot Cole Trickle (Cruise) and veteran racer Rowdy Burns (Rooker). When both of them are seriously injured in competition, the former bitter rivals become close friends. With Cole's spirits restored by a romance with neurosurgeon Dr. Claire Lewicki (Kidman), and Rowdy still sidelined by injuries, Cole decides to race Rowdy's car in the Daytona 500 against underhanded newcomer Russ Wheeler (Elwes).' The post Days of Thunder 2: Tom Cruise Sequel Gets Exciting Update appeared first on - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More.
