‘Days of Thunder’s Randy Quaid Calls Anne Hathaway “Horrible Choice” For Sequel In Problematic Diatribe: “She’s Pregnant”
Actor Randy Quaid criticised Anne Hathaway's casting in Paramount's upcoming "Days of Thunder 2", calling her a "horrible choice" and referencing her pregnancy in a series of posts on X. The remarks came shortly after Paramount confirmed Hathaway would star opposite Tom Cruise, and just hours after Quaid himself had teased his own return to the franchise, potentially complicating his involvement in the sequel.
Quaid, who played team owner Tim Daland in the 1990 original, argued that Nicole Kidman, Cruise's former wife and co-star in the first film, should reprise the role instead, calling Hathaway "not sexy" due to her pregnancy and describing her as a "leftist, woke" choice unsuited to the franchise's NASCAR audience. Hathaway, who is expecting her third child, is reportedly set to play a team owner and engineer in the film, directed by Jonathan Levine and due for release on 2 June 2028. Paramount has not yet responded publicly to Quaid's comments.
- Randy Quaid attacked Anne Hathaway's casting in "Days of Thunder 2"
- He cited her pregnancy and called for Nicole Kidman instead
- Paramount confirmed Hathaway for the 2028 sequel with Tom Cruise
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Tom Cruise's 1990 racing film "Days of Thunder" is getting a sequel from Paramount, with production reportedly under way and a release date set for 2 June 2028. Anne Hathaway has been confirmed to co-star alongside Cruise, taking on a role as a team owner and engineer, while director Jonathan Levine leads the project.
Randy Quaid played team owner Tim Daland in the original 1990 film and has been signalling interest in returning for the sequel. Nicole Kidman, who starred opposite Cruise in the first instalment and was later married to him, is not currently attached to the new project.
The story centres on public comments Quaid made about Hathaway's casting shortly after it was announced, drawing attention because of who is involved: two long-running franchise stars, a original cast member hoping to return, and a studio that has yet to comment publicly.
Both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Some fans and industry observers argue that long-running franchises are built on audience loyalty to specific dynamics, and that returning actors such as Randy Quaid have standing to voice concerns about how a beloved sequel is cast, particularly given hopes that Nicole Kidman might reprise her original role for continuity and nostalgia. From this view, public debate over casting choices is a normal part of franchise culture, and actors, like any stakeholders, are entitled to express personal opinions about creative direction even if those opinions prove unpopular. Advocates of this position would stress that questioning a casting decision is not inherently improper, and that studios and audiences alike benefit from open discussion about what serves a film's tone and fanbase.
The case against
Others would argue that framing a working actress's suitability for a role around her pregnancy or physical appearance is unfair and beside the point, since casting decisions ought to rest on acting ability, character fit and box-office judgement rather than personal life circumstances. They would note that Anne Hathaway is an accomplished, high-profile performer whose casting reflects a legitimate creative choice by the studio and director, and that reducing her suitability to attractiveness or political labelling sidesteps any substantive critique of the film itself. From this perspective, public figures should be free from having their bodies or perceived politics used as grounds for professional criticism, and studios should retain the right to cast as they see fit without such commentary shaping the narrative.