According to Deadline, Basso will play the role based on Vance, whose memoir is about the Appalachian values of his Kentucky family and their relation to the social problems of his hometown of Middletown, where his mother’s parents moved when they were young.
Basso has acted in nearly two dozen movie and television series including “The Kings of the Summer” in 2013, “Super 8” in 2011 and “The Whole Truth,” in 2016, according to IMDb.com.
MORE: Ron Howard spotted in Middletown again at popular coffee shop
MORE: Report: Glenn Close to play J.D. Vance’s grandmother in ‘Hillbilly Elegy’ movie
Howard is producing with Brian Grazer and Karen Lunder for Imagine Entertainment. Julie Oh and Vance are executive producers.
Over the past several months, Howard has been seen around Middletown and has been a regular of sorts at the Triple Moon Coffee Company for coffee and vegetarian sandwiches.
The downtown Middletown business community has been making local videos and posting them to You Tube and Facebook to encourage Howard to film in the city.
Imagine acquired the book at auction in 2017 and Netflix made a deal for a $45 million film in a heated bidding war earlier this year. The book was a bestseller for 74 weeks.
About the Author
