-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Jf71UqNVWsVpXgY0NbOCgxaj0G3OoUTq9ZSgnj3wVQ39Pp53RN77fDTcO48Iedas
 Jyk63NCjqqM/oeJwk+CQMQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001124460-04-000002.txt : 20041124
<SEC-HEADER>0001124460-04-000002.hdr.sgml : 20041124
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041124141017
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001124460-04-000002
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20041122
FILED AS OF DATE:		20041124
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20041124

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			EDENS WESLEY R
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001124460

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31458
		FILM NUMBER:		041166565

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1251 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS 16 FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10020
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2127986100

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NEWCASTLE INVESTMENT CORP
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001175483
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
		IRS NUMBER:				810559116
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			MD
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O FORTRESS
		STREET 2:		1251 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS 16TH FL
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10020
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2127986100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O FORTRESS
		STREET 2:		1251 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS 16TH FL
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10020
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2004-11-22</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001175483</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NEWCASTLE INVESTMENT CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>NCT</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001124460</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>EDENS WESLEY R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity></rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState></rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode></rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>Chief Executive Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Option (Right to Buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>31.4</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2004-11-22</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>J</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>96689</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2014-11-22</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock Par Value $0.01</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>96689</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>96689</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Fortress Principal Investment Holdings LLC</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Option grant to Fortress Principal Investment Holdings LLC (&quot;FPIH&quot;) (Option for (i) number of shares equal to 10% of the number of shares issued by the issuer in a common stock offering that settled on November 22, 2004 less (ii) the portion of such option grant that was assigned for no value to certain employees simultaneously upon receipt thereof by FPIH).</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Th Option is fully vested on the date of grant and is exercisable in thirty equal monthly installments beginning December 1, 2004.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Mr. Edens may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of these shares of common stock by virtue of his beneficial ownership of a portion of Fortress Principal Investment Holdings LLC (&quot;FPIH&quot;); Mr. Edens disclaims beneficial ownership of any derivative securities (and the underlying shares of common stock) of the issuer held by FPIH except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Wesley R. Edens</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-11-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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