Cinema VinesTom Cruise has announced a new “Days of Thunder” sequel, slated for a June 2028 theatrical release, and the film’s female lead will be played by Anne Hathaway. The role was originally portrayed by Nicole Kidman in the 1990 original, which starred Cruise as rookie NASCAR driver Cole Trickle and Randy Quaid as team owner Tim Daland. The announcement was made in a joint video by Cruise and Hathaway, in which Hathaway, who is pregnant with her third child, joked about filming after the birth and Cruise responded with a light‑hearted plan to shoot the movie in summer 2028.
Quaid, who appeared in the first film, has taken to X to voice strong objections to Hathaway’s casting. In a series of posts he called Hathaway a “horrible choice,” criticized her appearance and noted that she is pregnant, adding that the original female lead, Kidman, should return. He also accused Cruise of being “a p***y” for the decision, saying, “We need Nicole back. Don’t be a p***y, [Tom Cruise]. 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 a follow‑up tweet Quaid further described Hathaway as “a leftist, woke, horrible choice for ‘Days of Thunder’ NASCAR audience who are MAGA.” He argued that a “sexy older chick” would have sold the film better, insisting the casting should have mirrored the original. Quaid’s comments also referenced the rushed production of the first movie, noting that editors had to stay overnight in the cutting room.
The original 1990 film, directed by Tony Scott and produced by Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer, also featured Robert Duvall, Cary Elwes, and John C. Reilly. The new project will be directed by Jonathan Levine, with Cruise producing alongside Bruckheimer and Tommy Harper. Paramount Pictures has confirmed the June 2028 release date for the sequel, bringing the franchise back to the big screen after nearly four decades.
