Actor Randy Quaid has launched a scathing attack on the casting of Anne Hathaway in the upcoming movie Days of Thunder 2, calling the actress a woke choice who will alienate the film's core audience.
The 75-year-old actor expressed his frustration in a series of posts on social media platform X on Saturday, following news that Hathaway is set to co-star opposite Tom Cruise in the high-speed sequel.
Quaid, who portrayed car owner Tim Daland in the original 1990 film, argued that Hathaway's political leanings render her unsuited for a motorsport feature aimed at conservative moviegoers. "Anne Hathaway is a leftist, woke, horrible choice for DAYS OF THUNDER NASCAR audience who are MAGA," Quaid wrote on X. The actress has previously publicly endorsed Democratic presidential candidates, including Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris.
Representatives for both Hathaway and Quaid have been contacted by The Daily Mail for further comment regarding the comments. NASCAR, the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing, represents America's premier stock car racing series and commands a large, traditionally conservative fanbase across the country.
Push for Nicole Kidman Return
Rather than casting Hathaway, Quaid insisted that producers should have re-hired Cruise's ex-wife Nicole Kidman to co-star in the project. Kidman played physician Dr Claire Lewicki in the original 1990 feature.
"The sexy older chick for Tom in this film needs to be Nicole," Quaid posted. "That's the casting that would sell the idea." Quaid added, "we need Nicole back," before writing, "Don't be a p***y, @TomCruise. You need the original girl. It's not personal; it's filmmaking."
Quaid also targeted Hathaway's current pregnancy, writing, "Anne isn't sexy, because and if you haven't noticed, she's pregnant." In a recent video clip shared on social media, Hathaway, who is pregnant with her third child, noted that she planned to "have this baby, then make the movie."
Quaid maintained that reuniting Cruise and Kidman would generate far greater box office appeal. "If I were in control of production, a real sequel worth watching for DAYS OF THUNDER would be seeing Tom and Nicole together on screen again," Quaid wrote, adding, "We don't need a new girl; we need a new race car!"
Cruise and Kidman initially met on set while filming the original movie in 1989 and were married from 1990 until 2001. Prior to their separation, the pair starred together in several major releases, including Ron Howard's 1992 drama Far and Away and Stanley Kubrick's 1999 psychological thriller Eyes Wide Shut. Kidman is an Oscar-winning actress, while Cruise remains one of Hollywood's biggest box office draws through franchises such as Top Gun and Mission: Impossible.
Production Concerns and Original Movie Legacy
Beyond casting decisions, Quaid voiced concerns that the production is being rushed into theaters, comparing the current schedule to the hectic post-production environment of the original film. "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 wrote. "This is a weird thing, like they want it to come out and tank."
The original Days of Thunder was directed by the late Tony Scott, the acclaimed director behind action blockbusters including Top Gun and Beverly Hills Cop II. Released in theaters in June 1990, the motion picture generated $82.6 million in domestic box office revenue and $157.9 million worldwide. The film featured Cruise as talented driver Cole Trickle, alongside Quaid as team owner Tim Daland and the late Academy Award-winner Robert Duvall as veteran crew chief Harry Hogge.
Born in Houston, Texas, Quaid is an Oscar-nominated character actor recognized for his work in films such as The Last Detail, National Lampoon's Vacation, and Independence Day. Hathaway, who won an Academy Award for Les Misérables, has recently appeared in a series of prominent releases, including The Odyssey, The Devil Wears Prada 2, and The End of Oak Street.
Sequel Details and Release Schedule
In the upcoming sequel, Hathaway is slated to play an engineer and racing team owner opposite Cruise, 64, who returns to his role as veteran stock car racer Cole Trickle. The project is being directed by Jonathan Levine, whose previous directorial credits include 50/50 and Warm Bodies.
Days of Thunder 2 is officially scheduled to open in theaters on June 2, 2028.
