Randy Quaid, who appeared in the original 1990 racing film Days of Thunder, has unleashed a barrage of posts on X targeting Anne Hathaway’s casting in the forthcoming sequel opposite Tom Cruise.
The actor branded Ms Hathaway a “leftist, woke, horrible choice” for the project in a series of messages published on Saturday, whilst also making loaded remarks about the Oscar-winning actress’s appearance and pregnancy.
“Anne isn’t sexy, because and if you haven’t noticed, she’s pregnant,” Mr Quaid wrote, referring to Ms Hathaway’s third child, which she is currently expecting.
He went on to suggest the sequel was being set up to fail, writing: “This is a weird thing, like they want it to come out and tank.”
Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise in 1990’s Days of Thunder
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The outburst drew swift attention online as fans of the Devil Wears Prada star rallied to her defence.
Across multiple posts, Mr Quaid insisted that Mr Cruise’s former wife Nicole Kidman, who played Dr Claire Lewicki in the original, ought to reprise her role in the follow-up.
“We need Nicole back. Don’t be a pussy, @TomCruise,” he wrote. “You need the original girl. It’s not personal; it’s filmmaking.”
In a further message, he argued: “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!”
Randy Quaid starred in the original film
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Mr Quaid also suggested that Ms Hathaway’s casting was misaligned with the film’s core viewership, declaring that the “DAYS OF THUNDER NASCAR audience” is “MAGA” and that “the sexy older chick for Tom in this film needs to be Nicole.”
In a rather bizarre twist, the tirade came just hours after Mr Quaid had hinted at his own involvement in the project. In a video shared on X earlier that same day, he declared: “Hey, Tom Cruise just called me. We’re making Days of Thunder 2!”
In the original film, Mr Quaid portrayed Tim Daland, the Nascar team owner who recruits Mr Cruise’s character Cole Trickle to race on his behalf.
In the decades since, the actor has become better known for his outspoken conservative politics and run-ins with the law than for his screen work.
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…
— Randy Quaid (@RandyRRQuaid) August 29, 2026
He and his wife, Evi Motolanez, faced burglary charges in 2010 and subsequently fled to Canada after failing to appear in court, before being deported in 2015.
In 2020, then-President Donald Trump shared several of Mr Quaid’s videos promoting election fraud conspiracy theories.
Paramount confirmed on Saturday that Ms Hathaway would star alongside Mr Cruise in Days of Thunder 2, with the pair revealing the news in a video filmed at Daytona. The sequel is set for a June 2, 2028, premiere in Imax.
Ms Hathaway is understood to be taking on the part of a racing team owner and engineer, whilst MrCruise will return as driver Cole Trickle. She confirmed that she would give birth before cameras begin rolling.
Anne Hathaway is one of Hollywood’s biggest stars
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GETTYJonathan Levine has been brought on board to direct, working from a screenplay by Will Staples. Mr Cruise is producing with Jerry Bruckheimer and Tommy Harper.
The original film, helmed by the late Tony Scott, earned $157.9 million globally upon its release in the summer of 1990. Its cast also included Robert Duvall, who died earlier this year, along with Cary Elwes and John C Reilly.