# Tom Cruise filmmaking and mentorship insights > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/tom-cruise-filmmaking-and-mentorship-insights > Updated: 2026-09-18T22:35:41.000Z. Sources: 18. Developments: 2. Actor Tom Cruise has shared further details regarding his professional philosophy and upcoming film projects. In recent media appearances, including a guest spot on the ‘New Heights’ podcast, Cruise confirmed he will reprise his role as Cole Trickle in a sequel to ‘Days of Thunder’. Produced alongside Jerry Bruckheimer, the film is slated for a June 2, 2028, release by Paramount and will feature Anne Hathaway as a NASCAR team owner and engineer. Discussing his upcoming film ‘Digger’, Cruise highlighted his intense work ethic, noting he used timed drills to reduce his prosthetic makeup application time from six hours to under one hour. He also addressed his reputation for maintaining high standards on set, stating, “The rumors are true,” and explaining that he feels a deep responsibility for everyone involved in a production. Cruise reiterated his decision not to pursue directing, citing a preference for supporting directors to learn from their unique perspectives. He also described his approach to performing high-stakes stunts as an adventure driven by a desire to embrace uncertainty. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-18: Tom Cruise discusses 'Days of Thunder 2' and upcoming film 'Digger Tom Cruise discusses his return in ‘Days of Thunder 2’, his upcoming film ‘Digger’, and his high professional standards during recent podcast and interview appearances. 16 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/tom-cruise-discusses-unique-filmmaking-process-and-directing ### 2026-09-16: Tom Cruise discusses career longevity and acting mentorship Actor Tom Cruise discusses his outlook on aging in Hollywood and his creation of a six-hour instructional video to mentor younger actors in the technical aspects of screen acting. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/tom-cruise-discusses-career-longevity-and-acting-mentorship --- Cite as: Tom Cruise filmmaking and mentorship insights. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/tom-cruise-filmmaking-and-mentorship-insights