Anne Hathaway is facing boycott calls before “Days of Thunder 2” even hits theaters.
A video resurfaced showing the actress describing abortion as a possible act of “mercy,” and the timing could not have been worse for the production. The clip began recirculating shortly after Hathaway was announced as Tom Cruise’s co-star in the long-awaited sequel to the 1990 NASCAR drama.
The backlash was swift. One widely shared post labeled her remarks “straight up demonic” and urged moviegoers to stay away from the film. Conservative audiences, many of whom are core NASCAR fans, took the casting announcement as a provocation.
As originally reported, Hathaway’s casting immediately renewed scrutiny of her vocal support for abortion rights and other left-wing causes, drawing sharp criticism from multiple directions.
Cruise is set to reprise his role as NASCAR driver Cole Trickle in the sequel. Hathaway’s addition to the cast brought immediate controversy, not just from online commentators but from someone with direct ties to the original film.
Randy Quaid, who appeared in the 1990 original, did not hold back. He publicly called Hathaway a “leftist, woke, horrible choice” for a movie targeting NASCAR fans. His comments amplified the growing chorus of voices calling for a boycott.
The controversy reflects a broader pattern in Hollywood, where casting decisions now frequently trigger political battles before a single frame of a film is released. For a franchise built on speed, this sequel has found itself moving very slowly through a minefield.
Whether the boycott gains real traction remains to be seen. But with Hathaway’s past remarks back in circulation and a prominent voice from the original cast openly opposing her involvement, the production is already carrying significant baggage heading into release.