Last week, Tom Cruise revealed he is considering a sequel to his 1990 NASCAR racing film, Days of Thunder. And, he already has competition. Kevin Harvick is keen to get involved in a movie too. The former NASCAR Cup driver has even offered his mansion, which was acquired in 2023, for filming.
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Harvick’s Cornelius Estate featured in the movie Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. He believes it provides an aesthetic feel to a racing flick. Situated on the shores of Lake Norman, the iconic residence was portrayed as the home of the fictional racer Ricky Bobby. Harvick is harping for its sequel.
Talking about sequels, planning one to Days of Thunder is a gutsy move, considering the film wasn’t a smash hit at the box office. It earned $157 million worldwide on a budget of $60 million, and met with mixed to negative reviews from critics.
In contrast, Talladega Nights fared much better, securing a 71% approval rating and an average score of 6.51 out of 10 on Rotten Tomatoes. The film, made with a budget of $72,500 million, grossed over $163 million.
Maybe that fuelled Harvick’s sequel idea. He suggested: “I think we should have Ricky Bobby or Will Ferrell and Talladega Nights too. I know where we can film it… We’re going to film it in a modernized Ricky Bobby home…”
When asked if he would allow the filming crew into his house, the former SHR driver stated, “There’s a price for everything,” hinting that he might charge for the use of his mansion.
Kevin and his wife DeLana became the owners of the Lake Norman mansion on October 27 last year, shelling out $6.75 million for it, as per Mecklenburg County real estate records. The estate, which spans over 12,000 square feet, is tucked within the exclusive confines of the gated Connor Quay neighborhood.
Rick Hendrick may return to his role if a sequel to Days of Thunder materializes
As enthusiasm builds among Cruise, and NASCAR fans for the sequel to Days of Thunder, rumors suggest that Rick Hendrick, the owner of Hendrick Motorsports, might once again play a part in the film.
A Hollywood insider shared that the realization of the sequel hinges primarily on the script.
“It’s going to be what comes together first in terms of a script. It depends on the idea and, ultimately, the script,” they explained.
However, there remains some doubt as Hendrick was not entirely impressed with the portrayal of races in the original film.
Reflecting on the essence of the movie, Hendrick acknowledged its spirit but criticized its depiction of racing.
“The racing wasn’t very good. It was just beating and banging, and the cars looked like they were from a junkyard. But that was what they wanted,” he toldthe Daytona Beach News-Journal on the occasion of the film’s 20th anniversary.
Perhaps having a few NASCAR drivers making cameo appearances in the film could help with the realism as well as the business.
