Randy Quaid Slams Anne Hathaway's 'Days of Thunder 2' Casting, Calls for Nicole Kidman

Randy Quaid Criticizes Anne Hathaway's Casting in 'Days of Thunder 2'

Randy Quaid, who played team owner Tim Daland in the 1990 film "Days of Thunder," has publicly criticized the casting of Anne Hathaway in the upcoming sequel. In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), Quaid called Hathaway a "leftist, woke, horrible choice" and suggested that Nicole Kidman, who starred opposite Tom Cruise in the original, should have been cast instead.

Quaid wrote on X: "We need Nicole back. Don't be a pussy, @TomCruise. You need the original girl. It's not personal; it's filmmaking. Anne isn't sexy, because and if you haven't noticed, she's pregnant."

In another post, he continued: "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."

Quaid also reiterated his desire to see Cruise and Kidman reunite on screen, saying, "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!"

Background on the Original Film and the Sequel

The original "Days of Thunder," directed by the late Tony Scott, starred Cruise as Cole Trickle, a rising NASCAR driver. Quaid played a race team owner who recruited Trickle, and Kidman played Dr. Claire Lewicki, a neurosurgeon who becomes Trickle's love interest. The film marked the beginning of Cruise and Kidman's real-life relationship; they married in 1990 and divorced in 2001.

Tom Cruise has confirmed that a sequel is in the works, with a release date set for June 2, 2028. Anne Hathaway is officially set to appear in the sequel, playing a new character—reportedly an engineer and team owner—not a replacement for Kidman's role. Jonathan Levine is set to direct, with Will Staples writing the screenplay. Cruise, Jerry Bruckheimer, and Tommy Harper are producing. The sequel will be filmed for Imax and released by Paramount.

Reactions and Context

Quaid's comments drew criticism from social media users. One fan replied to Quaid, "I find it more than a bit performative that you simultaneously argue conservatives in Hollywood should not lose out on work because of their politics but those on the Left should." Other commenters accused him of being bitter about not being asked to return for the sequel. Paramount had no immediate comment on Quaid's remarks.

Quaid, known for his roles in "National Lampoon's Vacation" and "The Last Detail," has been a controversial figure in recent years. He left mainstream Hollywood after he and his wife faced legal troubles and erratic behavior allegations. He is an outspoken supporter of President Donald Trump and has previously supported conspiracy theories about the 2020 election.

Hathaway, who is pregnant with her third child, is coming off roles in "The Devil Wears Prada 2" and "The Odyssey," and will next star in "Verity," based on Colleen Hoover's novel.