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It wasn’t a huge hit. It didn’t receive good reviews. And it’s not really considered a classic by any measure. But *Days of Thunder *has its fans, and those people would be really pissed if Paramount decided to remake their beloved NASCAR movie. That’s why it’s surprising that the studio is *not *following with the traditional Hollywood procedure of redoing, rebooting or otherwise diminishing the original. Instead, according to Variety, Paramount is celebrating *Days of Thunder *on its 20th anniversary.
No, it’s not getting a special theatrical re-release nor is it likely that Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman will be reunited for a big occasion. Simply, the studio has made a number of licensing deals related to the film’s anniversary. Kohls will be selling men’s t-shirts with the tagline “You Can’t Outrun the Thunder” and Robert Duvall’s signature line, “Rubbin’ is Racin.'” Also, there’s reportedly a downloadable videogame on the way this summer!
It may not sound like much, but there’s something to be said for Paramount’s idea to spotlight a 20-year-old property. Are they interested in giving back to the small, loyal fanbase? Or, do they hope to acquire new fans – a new generation of racing fans, for instance – by promoting the heck out of an archive title with a continued niche audience? The reasoning from the studio is officially thus: “Days of Thunder is a timeless racing film that has maintained a strong following 20 years after its theatrical release.”