Fresh off her seventh Oscar nomination and a Golden Globe win forThe Wife,Glenn Closehas signed on to joinAmy AdamsinRon Howard’s Netflix dramaHillbilly Elegy, Collider has learned.
Oscar-nominated screenwriterVanessa Taylor(The Shape of Water) is adaptingJ.D. Vance’s bestselling memoir, whicih saw a family crisis force the former Marine-turned-Yale law school student to return to the home in southern Ohio that he tried so hard to forget. While there, he must navigate the complex dynamics of his Appalachian family, including his volatile relationship with his mother Bev (Adams), who’s struggling with addiction.
Fueled by memories of his grandmother Mamaw (Close), the resilient and whip-smart woman who raised him, J.D. comes to realize that to achieve his dreams, he must embrace his roots. By following three colorful generations through their unique struggles, J.D.’s powerful family story explores the highs and lows that define hillbilly culture, all while deconstructing stereotypes.
Howard is producingHillbilly Elegywith his Imagine Entertainment partnersBrian GrazerandKaren Lunder, whileJulie Ohwill serve as an executive producer alongside Vance. The project actually serves as a reunion for Howard and Close, who worked together onThe Paper. Close also hand-picked Howard to direct her in a PSA for her nonprofit organization Bring Change to Mind, which aims to encourage dialogue about mental health.
Close is one of Hollywood’s most revered actresses, with seven Oscar nominations to her name.Hillbilly Elegywill no doubt offer her a shot at a Best Supporting Actress statue, and if not, there’s alwaysRyan MurphyandRob Ashford’s long-gestating remake ofSunset Boulevard, in which Close is poised to play the iconic Norma Desmond. Adams, for her part, has six nominations of her own, so at the very least, they’ll have the injustice of the Academy Awards to commiserate together.
Close won two Emmys for her work on the FX dramaDamages, which also won her a Golden Globe, as didThe Wife. Close is also part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, having played Nova Prime inJames Gunn’s originalGuardians of the Galaxy. She’s represented by CAA, MGMT and Loeb & Loeb.
