Will Poulter and Noah Centineo Went to Ohio to Immerse Themselves in the Addiction Recovery System for ‘Union County’

Adam Meeks, Annette Deao, and British actor Will Poulter are in the middle of a multi-day road trip around Ohio to promote their film "Union County." The trio, who co-created the indie movie last year, are bonding over their shared experience navigating the challenges of addiction and recovery through their art.

In an interview with the Associated Press, the actors and filmmaker shared that their Ohio tour is far from a Hollywood spectacle. There are no publicists, studio reps, or glam squads in tow. They arrived at a regional news station dressed in identical white T-shirts and made stops at family homes, such as Deao's 185-year-old renovated barn and Meeks' uncle's garage, where he kept props and costumes from the film.

The group is meticulous about sampling Ohio's finest culinary offerings, with Hoyo's Kitchen, a Somali food stall in Columbus' North Market, standing out as a favorite. The car they travel in, mainly designed for two over-the-6-foot-tall men, was stocked with snacks like mandarin oranges, mangoes, and coconut chocolate-covered almonds. Deao prepared the food while Meeks curated the playlist, including Ohio's own Afroman. Poulter brought sugar-free energy drinks, which Meeks dubbed "Will's a bad influence."

The trio's enthusiasm for the film's reception during screenings at the Gateway Film Center in Columbus and The Nightlight in Akron is evident. Poulter noted that regional pride is palpable, not just because the film was made locally, but because it highlights the human aspect of the opioid crisis.