-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 NKU0i6b4GTW6gE5/sUv06Z91CKomYV3y+WOEpOAsPtnsp+7tukNtNuI15TwID+42
 drlz/H3DQ35+y/wazvCEBA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001245522-04-000001.txt : 20041124
<SEC-HEADER>0001245522-04-000001.hdr.sgml : 20041124
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20041124143357
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001245522-04-000001
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:			RIIS KENNETH M
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001245522
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-31458
		FILM NUMBER:		041166744

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		BUSINESS PHONE:		2127986100

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1251 AVENUE OF THE AMERICA 16 FLOOR
		CITY:			NEW YORK
		STATE:			NY
		ZIP:			10020

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>0001245522</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>RIIS KENNETH M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>1251 AVENUE OF THE AMERICA 16 FLOOR</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>NEW YORK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>NY</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>10020</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President</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>28437</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>28437</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>28437</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Options assumed for no value; assigned to officer from Fortress Principal Investment Holdings LLC (&quot;FPIH&quot;) simultaneously with the receipt by FPIH of options from the issuer.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Options were fully vested on the date of the grant thereof by issuer and become exercisable in thirty equal monthly installments beginning on the first of the month following the month in which granted.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Kenneth M. Riis</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2004-11-24</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----