Ron Howard — Who Directed J.D. Vance’s Biopic — Reveals What He Told VP After Election

Conservative News DailyAugust 16, 2025

Filmmaker Ron Howard revealed in a recent interview that after the 2024 election, he sent a text message to Vice President J.D. Vance wishing him “Godspeed” and hoping he would serve well. Howard had worked closely with Vance during the making of the 2020 biopic *Hillbilly Elegy*, which portrayed Vance’s challenging upbringing. At that time,Howard said their conversations focused mainly on Vance’s personal story rather than politics,and he did not anticipate Vance’s current political direction.

Howard expressed surprise and disappointment at the divisive rhetoric Vance has adopted since then. He acknowledged that while he respects what he observed personally, the political evolution and messaging from Vance have been unexpected. Vance,who once identified as a “Never Trump” critic,has as become the Republican vice presidential nominee alongside Donald Trump in 2024.

The movie *Hillbilly Elegy* is based on Vance’s 2016 memoir, and prior to his Senate election in 2022, Vance worked as a venture capitalist. Howard’s reflections highlight a contrast between the individual portrayed in the film and Vance’s more recent political persona.

In an interview published Wednesday, filmmaker Ron Howard revealed what he had texted Vice President J.D. Vance in 2024.

“I did one text, after the election, which was just sort of ‘Godspeed. Try to serve us well,’” Howard told Vulture.

Howard had worked closely with Vance during the filming of “Hillbilly Elegy,” a biopic released in 2020 about Vance’s troubled upbringing.

‘Eden’ Director Ron Howard has worked with everyone from Bette Davis to J.D. Vance. He has stories about all of them. https://t.co/UPV8G4QzRE

— New York Magazine (@NYMag) August 13, 2025

While working with Vance prior to 2020, Howard hadn’t anticipated the man would follow the political path that he did, he told Deadline in a September 2024 interview.

“Well, we didn’t talk a lot of politics when we were making the movie because I was interested in his upbringing and that survival tale. That’s what we mostly focused on,” Howard said.

“However, based on the conversations that we had during that time, I just have to say I’m very surprised and disappointed by much of the rhetoric that I’m reading and hearing,” he said.

Vance was at one point critical of President Donald Trump, even describing himself as a “Never Trump guy” during a 2016 interview with Charlie Rose.

During the interview with Vulture, Howard was asked if he could “reconcile” the Vance portrayed in the movie with the Vance of today.

“Am I able to reconcile? Well, it’s happened, so I know what I’ve observed. It remains a bit of a surprise to me,” Howard said.

“I would not have seen it coming, and I wouldn’t have expected his rhetoric to be as divisive as it sometimes is. By the way, I’m not following him or listening to every word,” he added.

If you haven’t watched Ron Howard’s Hillbilly Elegy yet, check it out. Regardless of which side you’re on, it’s a great feel good movie. Amy Adams and Glenn Close are on point!

Trailer pic.twitter.com/qjoKccerrm

— UseC⭕️mmonSense (@UseCommonSenses) January 23, 2025

The movie “Hillbilly Elegy” was based on Vance’s 2016 memoir of the same name.

When JD Vance Promoted His Book ‘Hillbilly Elegy’ In 2017 NBC Interview pic.twitter.com/QdE1sEubhu

— Slingshot News (@NewsSlingshot) August 26, 2024

Vance was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2022.

Prior to being elected, Vance worked as a venture capitalist.

In 2024, Trump asked him to to serve as the vice presidential nominee for the Republican Party.

“Just overwhelmed with gratitude,” Vance wrote on July 16, 2024, on the social media platform X.

“What an honor it is to run alongside President Donald J. Trump. He delivered peace and prosperity once, and with your help, he’ll do it again. Onward to victory!” he wrote.