Renowned filmmaker Ron Howard, who helmed the adaptation of Vice President JD Vance's 2016 memoir, "Hillbilly Elegy," recently expressed surprise at Vance's political rhetoric.
Howard remarked, "I wouldnt have expected his rhetoric to be as divisive as it sometimes is," while acknowledging that he doesn't closely follow Vance's every statement. This revelation came during an interview with Vulture, where Howard reflected on his time spent with Vance during the production and promotion of the film.
As reported by Breitbart, Howard admitted that Vance's transition from running an investment fund to pursuing a Senate seat and adopting his current political strategy was unexpected. Despite his candid remarks about Vance's rhetoric, Howard conceded, "Im not following him or listening to every word." This suggests a certain distance between the filmmaker and the political trajectory of the man whose life story he brought to the screen.
When questioned about any recent interactions with Vance, Howard shared that he had sent a congratulatory text following Vance's election as Vice President alongside President Donald Trump. "I did one text, after the election, which was just sort of Godspeed. Try to serve us well,'" Howard revealed. This brief exchange underscores the limited contact between the two since the film's release.
Howard also emphasized the personal significance of "Hillbilly Elegy" beyond its connection to Vance's life. "There were aspects of Hillbilly Elegy that were personal because I wanted to do something about the heartland that wasnt a bank-robbing story or about farming," he explained. This highlights Howard's broader artistic vision for the project, which aimed to portray the complexities of America's heartland.
In a related note, actor Gabriel Basso, who portrayed Vance in the film, expressed no regrets about his role. He remarked on the unique experience of playing someone who later ascended to the White House, stating, "Hes a cool dude. And it is wild to think that Ill be forever associated with his pipeline [to becoming Vice President]."
Basso's comments reflect the unexpected journey from portraying a character in a film to witnessing that character's real-life political rise.
Login