Ron Howard made a movie based on JD Vance’s book, but that doesn’t mean he’ll vote for him in November.

The Apollo13 The filmmaker recently reflected on Vance’s campaign for the vice presidency alongside presidential candidate and convicted felon Donald Trump.

“I was surprised and concerned about the rhetoric of this campaign,” Howard said in an interview with Diversity.

Howard directed the 2016 film adaptation of Vance’s memoir. Hillbilly Elegyand although he worked with the vice presidential candidate during production, he said political topics rarely came up during their conversations. “We didn’t talk much about politics when we were making the film because I was interested in his upbringing and this story of survival. That’s what we focused on most,” Howard said recently Deadline. “However, based on the conversations we’ve had during this time, I have to say I’m very surprised and disappointed by the rhetoric I’m reading and hearing. People change, and I expect this to be the case.”

The director also said that Vance did not seem that politically motivated during their interactions. “When we talked at the time I knew him, he was not politically engaged or claimed to be particularly interested. So that was then,” he said Deadline.

The Syringes The filmmaker reiterated that Vance’s candidacy does not affect his stance toward the Republican presidential candidate. “There is no way for me to re-elect Donald Trump as president, whoever the vice president was,” he said diversity. “Look, we have to go out and vote, no matter who. But be thoughtful. Listen to what the candidates are saying today – that’s what really matters. It shows who they are today. And make a decision – an informed one.”

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Hillbilly Elegy The film starred Gabriel Basso and Owen Asztalos as Vance at different ages, while Amy Adams played the future politician’s mother and Glenn Close portrayed his grandmother Mamaw.

Close, who was nominated for both an Oscar and a Golden Raspberry for her work in the film, took a subtle swipe at Vance on social media after he went viral for his 2021 comments claiming the United States was run by “a bunch of childless cat ladies who are unhappy with their own lives and the choices they’ve made.” The actress posted a picture of herself and her cat on Instagram with the caption, “Eve would have left a bleeding mouse head in bed for anyone criticizing any lady with a CAT!”

Celebrities such as Whoopi Goldberg and Jennifer Aniston have also condemned Vance’s “cat lady” remarks.

Hillbilly Elegy saw a massive increase in viewership on Netflix after Trump chose Vance as his running mate; the day of the announcement, the increase was 1,110 percent, and the film quickly rose into the streamer’s top 10 most-watched films at the time.