Randy Quaid Just Called Out Tom Cruise Over Anne Hathaway's Casting in Days of Thunder 2 — And the Internet Has Thoughts

Anne Hathaway joins Tom Cruise for the Days of Thunder sequel at Paramount. | Photo: Antara News

When Randy Quaid decides to post on X, buckle up. The actor — best known for playing Col. Ives in The Patriot and, more relevantly, Tim Richmond's race team owner in the original Days of Thunder (1990) — went on a tear this weekend after Paramount officially announced the long-awaited sequel starring Tom Cruise and Anne Hathaway.

The premise is simple enough: Cruise returns as NASCAR driver Cole Trickle, and Hathaway steps in as a team owner and engineer. The movie is set for release on June 2, 2028, with Jonathan Levine directing from a script by Will Staples. Jerry Bruckheimer and Tommy Harper are producing alongside Cruise. The film is being shot for Imax and will land in Dolby Cinema and 4DX.

What Quaid Actually Said

Before the official casting was even 24 hours old, Quaid posted a video of himself driving and declaring, "Tom Cruise just called me! We're making Days of Thunder 2!" Then came the real fireworks on X.

"We need Nicole Kidman back," Quaid wrote. "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."

He doubled down, calling Hathaway "a leftist, woke, horrible choice for Days of Thunder's NASCAR audience who are MAGA." He insisted the only casting that would sell the sequel is bringing back Nicole Kidman, who played neurosurgeon Dr. Claire Lewicki — Cole Trickle's love interest — in the 1990 original.

Quaid's post quickly racked up thousands of replies. Several followers defended Hathaway, with one pointing out the irony: "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."

Hathaway Is On a Hot Streak

The timing of Quaid's rant couldn't be worse for his argument. Anne Hathaway is coming off a massive 2026 — she starred in The Devil Wears Prada 2 alongside Meryl Streep and Emily Blunt, appeared in Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey, and is set to lead the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover's Verity, also releasing October 2.

She's also reportedly expecting, which is what Quaid referenced in his post. Instead of a thoughtful critique, it landed as a personal attack on a pregnant actress — which, predictably, didn't sit well with the internet.

Paramount Stays Silent

Paramount has declined to comment on Quaid's remarks. As for whether Quaid himself has a role in the sequel, that remains unclear. His video suggesting Cruise had personally called him to join the cast hasn't been confirmed by anyone at the studio.

The original Days of Thunder was directed by the late Tony Scott and also starred Robert Duvall as racing legend Harry Hogge and Cary Elwes as team ownerpole position rival. It grossed over $157 million worldwide and became a pop culture touchstone of the early '90s.

The sequel lands in the middle of Cruise's packed slate — he's also attached to Alejandro G. Iñárritu's Digger (October 2, 2026) and continues to develop projects under his production banner. For Cruise, who's 64 years old, it's another statement that he's not slowing down.

The Bigger Picture

Quaid's rant touches a nerve in Hollywood's ongoing culture war, but the reality is simpler: the Days of Thunder sequel is about a new chapter. Nicole Kidman is busy with her own projects, including Big Little Lies Season 3. Bringing in Hathaway — one of the most bankable actresses of her generation — makes strategic sense for Paramount.

Will the sequel live up to the original? That depends on Jonathan Levine, whose filmography includes The Night Before and Long Shot. With Cruise's signature practical stunts and Imax-level racing sequences, this could be a return to form for the blockbuster NASCAR movie we didn't know we needed.

For now, the internet is firmly Team Hathaway. And Randy Quaid? He's doing what Randy Quaid does best — making noise.

Days of Thunder 2 hits theaters June 2, 2028 via Paramount Pictures.