Actor Randy Quaid launched a sharp social media attack against the casting of Anne Hathaway opposite Tom Cruise in the upcoming Days of Thunder sequel, labeling the actress a woke choice and publicly campaigning for the return of original co-star Nicole Kidman ahead of a June 2028 theatrical release.
Hollywood sequels often trade heavily on nostalgia, but few modern casting announcements generate instant cross-platform backlash quite like the pairing lined up for Paramount Pictures. Randy Quaid, who portrayed racing team owner Tim Daland in the 1990 stock-car drama, took to social media platform X to voice his vehement opposition to Anne Hathaway joining the franchise opposite Tom Cruise. Quaid argued that Hathaway’s public political stances make her an ill-suited match for the core NASCAR demographic.
Anne Hathaway is a leftist, woke, horrible choice for DAYS OF THUNDER NASCAR audience who are MAGA,
Quaid wrote in his posts, referencing Hathaway’s past endorsements of political figures including Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris.
The Campaign for Nicole Kidman and a Nostalgic Return
Rather than welcoming Hathaway to the franchise, Quaid immediately turned his focus toward the past, demanding that Nicole Kidman reprise her original role as Dr. Claire Lewicki. Cruise and Kidman met during the production of the original Tony Scott-directed film in 1989 and were married from 1990 until 2001, later collaborating on projects such as 1992’s Far and Away and 1999’s Eyes Wide Shut.
“The sexy older chick for Tom in this film needs to be Nicole. That’s the casting that would sell the idea.”
Randy Quaid, actor
Quaid doubled down on his platform with direct encouragement for the franchise star, writing, Don’t be a p***y, @TomCruise. You need the original girl. It’s not personal; it’s filmmaking.
He also referenced Hathaway’s personal life during his critique, claiming she was unsuited for the role because she is pregnant with her third child. Representatives for Hathaway and Quaid were reached out to for further comment on the story.
How Hathaway’s Character Differs From the Original Dynamics
Despite Quaid framing the casting as a direct swap for Kidman’s character, industry reporting indicates that Hathaway’s actual function in the narrative is entirely distinct. Rather than playing another outsider or medical professional pulled into Cole Trickle’s orbit, Anne Hathaway will play a racecar team owner and engineer, placing her firmly in a position of corporate and technical authority within the racing world.
Tom Cruise is set to reprise his role as Cole Trickle, working from a screenplay penned by Will Staples under the direction of Jonathan Levine. Cruise is also producing alongside Jerry Bruckheimer and Tommy Harper. While Paramount has kept specific plot details tightly under wraps regarding how Cole’s life has evolved across nearly four decades, the production leans heavily back into the high-speed danger and teamwork of stock-car racing.
Production Pressures and the Road to 2028
Quaid also pointed to behind-the-scenes memories from the production of the original 1990 movie, expressing concern over the timeline for the upcoming sequel. The original film grossed $82.6 million domestically and $157.9 million worldwide, managing solid box office staying power despite a lukewarm 38% critical score on Rotten Tomatoes.
It’s interesting because when we made the first one there was also a rush to get it out; editors slept in the cutting room on shifts,
Quaid noted, comparing the past rush to his current impression of the sequel. This is a weird thing, like they want it to come out and tank.
With Hathaway coming off a theatrical slate including The Odyssey, The Devil Wears Prada 2, and The End of Oak Street, her star power remains high even as online factions debate her entry into the racing franchise. Paramount has scheduled Days of Thunder 2 to arrive in theaters on June 2, 2028, leaving plenty of runway for production to answer whether Kidman will make a surprise return alongside Cruise.
