Nicole Kidman fans are voicing their disappointment over Anne Hathaway’s Days of Thunder 2 casting. Many viewers are questioning why the sequel is not bringing back the original female lead.
Tom Cruise will reprise his role as NASCAR driver Cole Trickle in the upcoming film. Hathaway will play a race team owner and engineer as a new female lead, as Deadline reported. Paramount has set the sequel for June 2, 2028, nearly four decades after the original. Jonathan Levine will direct from a script by Will Staples. Cruise, Jerry Bruckheimer and Tommy Harper are co-producing.
The casting announcement quickly brought reactions from fans who adore Cruise and Kidman’s pairing. X user @mrbrianrowe wrote, “Why couldn’t they get Nicole Kidman to return, is she busy?” @tzych5 commented, “Super disappointed that Anne Hathaway was cast in this movie.” @NavyMom1776 said, “How could you do so good with Maverick, sequel to Top Gun and then not bring Nicole Kidman back for Days of Thunder? Who cares about your personal life? We want to see the original characters and a fabulous relationship on the screen.”
@crthmu8686 shared, “Nicole Kidman is still alive and has become a better actress over time….. how could you not have her back?!?!? she was 1/3 the reason Days of Thunder 1 was awesome….This new lady has too much baggage !” @jayaseeli_eva posted, “Why not doing it with Nicole Kidman instead??? You were so great together in the first Days of Thunder! That would’ve been awesome you two back together for the movie!!!” @Nina7Infinity wrote, “This would have been way cooler if it was with Nicole Kidman.”
A Days of Thunder star calls Anne Hathaway’s casting ‘horrible’
Randy Quaid has also objected to the casting of Anne Hathaway. He played Tim Daland, the wealthy team owner who helps bring Cole into the NASCAR world, in the first installment. Quaid has not been announced as part of the sequel’s cast.
In his social media post, Quaid wrote, “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.”
The original Days of Thunder was released in 1990 and directed by Tony Scott. Cruise starred opposite Kidman, who played Dr. Claire Lewicki, a doctor who becomes romantically involved with Cole. The cast also included Robert Duvall, Michael Rooker, Cary Elwes and John C. Reilly.
Cruise and Kidman met while making the movie and married later that year. They eventually divorced in 2001, but also worked together on Far and Away and Eyes Wide Shut. Kidman has not been announced for the new film, leaving Hathaway to take on a different role rather than Claire.
Days of Thunder 2 will be filmed for IMAX, Dolby Cinema, 4DX and other premium formats. The sequel is expected to continue the racing story with Cruise back behind the wheel. Further plot details remain under wraps.
