Paramount Pictures and Tom Cruise have officially announced the sequel to the 1990 hit movie *Days of Thunder,* set for release on June 2, 2028. Cruise will reprise his iconic role as Cole Trickle, while Anne Hathaway joins the cast as a racecar team owner and engineer. The film will be directed by Jonathan Levine, marking a significant return to a beloved racing franchise. Hathaway, who is currently expecting her third child, has confirmed she will begin filming after her baby is born.

Original *Days of Thunder* co-star Randy Quaid, who played Tim Daland, a wealthy car dealership and team owner, has publicly criticized Hathaway’s casting. Quaid took to social media to call Hathaway a “leftist” and “woke” choice, arguing that she does not fit the taste of the NASCAR fan base, which Quaid described as aligned with MAGA voters. He also suggested that Nicole Kidman, who co-starred in the original film and was married to Tom Cruise from 1990 to 2001, would have been a better fit for the role opposite Cruise.

The announcement video released by Cruise and Paramount features Hathaway standing in front of a race car emblazoned with the *Days of Thunder 2* logo. Despite her pregnancy, Hathaway expressed enthusiasm for the project, stating her plan to have her baby first and then commit fully to the movie. Cruise encouraged audiences to look forward to the summer 2028 release without delay, signaling a confident return to the franchise.

While no detailed plot information has been revealed, the presence of Hathaway as a racecar team owner and engineer suggests a modernized perspective on the racing world. Quaid’s criticism underscores the cultural and political tensions often surrounding Hollywood casting choices today. As anticipation builds for the sequel, both fans of the original and critics will be watching how the revamped *Days of Thunder* performs with this new high-profile cast.