Tom Cruise shakes hands with Brad Pitt: F1 and Days of Thunder crossover film project causes a sensation

For decades, fans have dreamed of seeing two of Hollywood’s biggest stars, Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt, share the screen once again. The last time they appeared together was in 1994’s gothic drama Interview With the Vampire, where their simmering on-screen tension created a cult classic. Now, thanks to filmmaker Joseph Kosinski, that dream has been reignited with a bold — and admittedly unlikely — idea: a crossover project between Brad Pitt’s recent Formula One film F1 and Cruise’s iconic 1990 racing drama Days of Thunder.

Kosinski, best known for directing Top Gun: Maverick, recently revealed in an interview with Collider that he once imagined what might happen if Pitt’s Sonny Hayes, a fictional F1 veteran, crossed paths with Cruise’s Cole Trickle, the hotshot NASCAR racer from Days of Thunder. The concept alone has sent shockwaves through the film community, racing fans, and Hollywood insiders, sparking conversations about what could be one of the most sensational crossovers in cinema history.

A Crossover No One Saw Coming

The origins of the idea are almost casual. Kosinski explained that he was asked a simple question during an interview: “If you could make a movie with Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt, what would it be?” His response — Sonny Hayes bumping into Cole Trickle — was off the cuff but immediately resonated with fans who have followed both stars’ careers.

“I just thought that would be a really great story, but probably impossible to make,” Kosinski admitted. “Talk about Mission: Impossible. That would be a tricky, tricky film to pull off.”

Despite his cautious tone, the mere mention of the crossover has been enough to ignite excitement. Social media buzzed as fans began speculating on potential storylines: Could Cole Trickle come out of retirement to mentor Sonny Hayes? Would the two face off in a high-stakes battle between NASCAR and Formula One? Or would they unite against a new generation of young racers threatening to overshadow their legacies?

Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise: Parallel Legends

Part of the excitement stems from the fact that Pitt and Cruise have rarely shared the screen. Their joint appearance in Interview With the Vampire remains a landmark moment in Hollywood casting, with both actors at the dawn of superstardom. Since then, their careers have taken different but equally impressive paths.

Tom Cruise has become synonymous with the Mission: Impossible franchise, redefining action cinema with his death-defying stunts and relentless work ethic. Meanwhile, Brad Pitt has navigated between blockbuster roles and prestige projects, winning an Academy Award for Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and recently making waves with his F1 film, which has become the highest-grossing project of his career.

The idea of merging their filmographies through racing — a genre both have dabbled in — feels almost poetic. Cruise brought heart and adrenaline to NASCAR in Days of Thunder, while Pitt’s Sonny Hayes introduced audiences to the intensity and glamour of Formula One. Together, they could deliver a racing epic that bridges generations of motorsport cinema.

Joseph Kosinski’s Connection

Kosinski is uniquely positioned to dream about such a project. Not only did he helm Top Gun: Maverick alongside Cruise, but he also played an indirect role in Pitt’s racing career on film. Years before F1 became a reality, Kosinski developed a racing drama called Go Like Hell, which chronicled the famous Ford vs Ferrari rivalry. Both Cruise and Pitt were attached at one point, and the filmmaker recalls hosting a surreal script read-through at Cruise’s house with both actors present.

Ultimately, Go Like Hell transformed into Ford v Ferrari (2019), starring Matt Damon and Christian Bale. Yet Kosinski never forgot the magic of having Cruise and Pitt in the same room, an energy he says would be “amazing” to bring to the screen again.

Why It Feels Possible Now

Although Kosinski dismissed the project as “probably impossible,” Hollywood history has shown that “impossible” ideas can become reality under the right circumstances. The success of Pitt’s F1 film has demonstrated that motorsport stories can resonate with global audiences, while Cruise remains one of the few stars who can consistently anchor billion-dollar blockbusters.

Moreover, the growing crossover between Formula One and Hollywood adds momentum to the idea. With F1 surging in popularity worldwide, and NASCAR maintaining its stronghold in the United States, a film that merges both worlds could appeal to an unusually broad demographic. Add Cruise and Pitt’s star power, and the box office potential would be massive.

The Legacy Factor

For Cruise, reprising Cole Trickle would tap into the nostalgia of one of his early career-defining roles. Days of Thunder, directed by the late Tony Scott, was more than just a racing film — it was a high-octane blend of drama, romance, and adrenaline that cemented Cruise’s reputation as Hollywood’s action star. Returning to that character more than three decades later would carry immense emotional weight for fans.

For Pitt, continuing the journey of Sonny Hayes could deepen the impact of F1, transforming it from a one-off blockbuster into the beginning of a legacy character. Much like how Top Gun: Maverick elevated Pete “Maverick” Mitchell into a multi-generational icon, a crossover could do the same for Pitt’s Sonny Hayes.

Mission: (Im)Possible?

Still, challenges remain. Scheduling alone would be a nightmare, given both actors’ packed calendars. Creative alignment would also be crucial — the story would need to satisfy both Hollywood’s demands for spectacle and fans’ expectations for depth. Then there are the rights issues: Paramount owns Days of Thunder, while Apple produced Pitt’s F1. Bringing those studios together would require rare cooperation.

But as Kosinski himself knows, impossible missions sometimes succeed. Top Gun: Maverick was once considered a risky, unnecessary sequel — until it became a global sensation. Could the same happen with Cruise and Pitt’s racing crossover?

Conclusion

For now, the idea of Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt shaking hands as Cole Trickle and Sonny Hayes remains in the realm of fan fantasy. Yet the buzz it has generated shows the enduring appeal of both stars and the universal thrill of motorsport storytelling.

If Hollywood finds a way to unite these legends on screen, it wouldn’t just be another blockbuster — it would be a cinematic event for the ages. And as one fan put it on social media: “If anyone can make the impossible happen, it’s Tom Cruise — with Brad Pitt by his side.”