Tom Cruise is set to return for the upcoming ‘Days of Thunder’ sequel, where he will reprise his role as NASCAR driver Cole Trickle. Anne Hathaway will star alongside him as the female lead, while it appears that Nicole Kidman, who appeared in the original film released in 1990, will not be returning.
In the 1990 movie, Kidman played neurosurgeon Dr. Claire Lewicki, who treats Trickle after a crash, eventually leading to the two falling in love. Interestingly, Kidman and Cruise, who first met on the set of ‘Days of Thunder,’ started dating and eventually married in 1990 before divorcing in 2001. The pair has remained estranged, which may be one of the reasons why Kidman will not return to appear in the sequel.
Indeed, some movies return with the next chapter almost immediately, but others take their time—sometimes decades. This gallery highlights the sequels (and prequels) that kept fans waiting far longer than expected, building anticipation, curiosity, and, in some cases, a bit of frustration before finally arriving on screen.
Click through to see which ones kept fans waiting the longest.