- Primary Subject: Randy Quaid’s backlash over Anne Hathaway’s casting in Days of Thunder 2.
- Key Update: Days of Thunder star Randy Quaid publicly criticized Tom Cruise’s decision to cast Anne Hathaway as the female lead in the sequel.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: August 31, 2026
- Quick Answer: Randy Quaid publicly slammed Anne Hathaway’s casting in Days of Thunder 2, calling her a poor fit for the audience and urging Tom Cruise to bring back Nicole Kidman instead.
Days of Thunder star Randy Quaid is calling out Anne Hathaway's casting as the female lead of the upcoming sequel.
Recently, it was announced that the Oscar-winning actress has joined Tom Cruise in the long-awaited sequel to the 1990 sports movie classic and will serve as the female lead. Most fans celebrated her casting and are excited to see how the two A-list stars' chemistry will play out.
However, one of the original stars has expressed displeasure about her involvement.
What Does Randy Quaid Think of Anne Hathaway's Casting in Days of Thunder 2?
In a series of posts on X, Randy Quaid weighed in on Anne Hathaway's casting for the Days of Thunder sequel following the recent announcement.
As fans already know, he played race team owner Tim Daland in the first film, although he has not been invited back to reprise his role in the follow-up.
"We need Nicole [Kidman] back. Don’t be a pussy, [Tom Cruise]. You need the original girl. It’s not personal; it’s filmmaking. Anne isn’t sexy, because, if you haven’t noticed, she’s pregnant," the actor wrote.
Quaid doubled down in a follow-up post where he criticized Hathaway's political views and argued that Nicole Kidman should have been brought back.
He added, "Anne Hathaway is a leftist, woke, horrible choice for ‘DAYS OF THUNDER’ NASCAR audience who are MAGA. The sexy older chick for Tom in this film needs to be Nicole. That’s the casting that would sell the idea. 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. This is a weird thing, like they want it to come out and tank."
So far, neither Hathaway nor Cruise have commented on Quaid's remarks about the actress's casting in the sequel.
What to Expect in Days of Thunder 2
So far, the plot details regarding Days of Thunder 2 are still under wraps, but it will bring back Tom Cruise as NASCAR legend Cole Trickle for another racing adventure. Jonathan Levine is directing, while filming will begin early next year.
Anne Hathaway joined the cast and will play the role of a race car team owner and engineer. More casting news might emerge in the coming months.
It remains unknown whether the surviving cast members from the original film, such as Michael Rooker, Cary Elwes, and John C. Reilly, will also return. Some fans are also speculating whether Nicole Kidman will return, although that might be unlikely given that she and Cruise have been divorced for more than two decades.
The film is currently slated for release in theaters on June 2, 2028. It will also be shot for IMAX.
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