Randy Quaid Criticizes Anne Hathaway’s ‘Days of Thunder 2’ Casting, Prefers Nicole Kidman

Legacy sequels often spark some tension among the original cast, but few reactions have been as direct as the one surrounding Paramount’s upcoming NASCAR revival. Tom Cruise’s return to the racetrack, decades after his breakout role in 1990, has generated significant buzz, and now one of his former co-stars is making his feelings known.

The original film, ‘Days of Thunder,’ catapulted Cruise into stardom as hotshot driver Cole Trickle, supported by a cast that included Nicole Kidman, Robert Duvall, Randy Quaid, and Cary Elwes. Nearly four decades later, Paramount has confirmed Cruise’s return for a sequel, this time featuring Anne Hathaway as a racecar team owner and engineer opposite him.

However, this casting choice has not pleased Quaid, who portrayed team owner Tim Daland in the original film. He took to X to express his discontent, posting a series of messages criticizing Hathaway’s role and insisting that Kidman should have been brought back to reunite with Cruise on screen.

“Anne Hathaway is a leftist, woke, horrible choice for the ‘Days of Thunder’ NASCAR audience who are MAGA,” Quaid stated. “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.”

Quaid continued his critique with further posts advocating for Kidman’s return while directly addressing Cruise. “We need Nicole back. Don’t be a p—y, @TomCruise,” he urged, adding in another post, “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. We don’t need a new girl; we need a new race car!”

The ‘Days of Thunder’ sequel has been in development for years, with reports of Cruise’s involvement surfacing since initial discussions began, alongside speculation about how the project would fit into his other commitments, including work with director Alejandro G. Iñárritu and an upcoming space-themed project for Universal. Jonathan Levine is set to direct the sequel, with Cruise producing alongside Jerry Bruckheimer and Tommy Harper, the same team behind the original.

It remains uncertain whether any other original cast members, including Kidman, Duvall, or Elwes, will be involved in the new film. Hathaway, one of Hollywood’s busiest actresses with several projects released this year and another set for October, confirmed during the sequel announcement that she plans to give birth before production begins, as she is currently expecting her third child.

Quaid’s comments come amid his growing reputation for conservative political commentary in recent years, which has increasingly shaped his public persona beyond acting. Whether his remarks will influence the project remains to be seen, but they have certainly added an unexpected twist to the sequel’s early buzz.

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