Noah Centineo hits the road with ‘Narnia’ star in ‘Union County’ first look — here’s when the film debuts
The Sundance Film Festival is beginning to reveal its 2026 program, and one of the most talked-about additions is ‘Union County,’ a gritty character drama from filmmaker Adam Meeks. The feature marks Meeks’ transition from short-form storytelling to full-length filmmaking, expanding upon his 2020 short of the same title. Leading the cast is Will Poulter, who steps into the role of Cody Parsons. He’s a man attempting to rebuild his life after completing a court-mandated drug recovery program in rural Ohio. Alongside the lineup announcement, Sundance also released the film’s first official still.
The image captures Poulter’s Cody in a moment of exhausted silence, staring out a car window with a hollow expression. Driving the vehicle is actor Noah Centineo, known for Netflix’s ‘The Recruit’ and the upcoming ‘Street Fighter’ adaptation. Set during the height of the opioid epidemic, ‘Union County’ takes place in one of the regions hit hardest by the crisis, as reported by Collider. Central Ohio became a devastating symbol of the nationwide public health emergency, where substance abuse fractured families and communities throughout the late 1990s and well into the 21st century.
Against that backdrop, Cody tries to reintegrate into society while carrying the heavy burden of relapse risk, community stigma, and a trail of personal consequences he can no longer outrun. Authenticity was a core priority for Meeks and his team. Production took place across Union County and neighboring towns, with many locals participating on set. Poulter, who appeared earlier this year in Season 4 of ‘The Bear,’ leads a cast that also includes Elise Kibler, Emily Meade, Annette Deaou, and Centineo. Behind the scenes, the producing team features Brad Becker-Parton, Stephanie Roush, Sean Weiner, Faye Tsakas, and Martha Gregory.
‘Union County’ is Meeks’ feature directorial debut, but he isn’t stepping into the arena alone. Centineo’s banner, Arkhum Productions, helped bring the film across the finish line. The company has previously backed projects such as ‘Our Hero,’ ‘Balthazar.’ The project also marks a reunion for Poulter and Centineo, as per ScreenRant. The two starred together in A24’s war drama ‘Warfare,’ playing Navy SEALs from different platoons caught in the chaos of a mission gone wrong. Both actors have lined up major roles in the coming year. Centineo will take on the iconic role of Ken Masters in the star-studded ‘Street Fighter’ adaptation scheduled for an October 16, 2026, release.
Poulter, meanwhile, will appear in Boots Riley’s upcoming feature ‘I Love Boosters’ on May 22, 2026. Additionally, Centineo has secured another franchise opportunity with a role in ‘John Rambo,’ a new prequel film from ‘Sisu’ director Jalmari Helander. Meanwhile, ‘Union County’ will make its world premiere at the 2026 Sundance Film Festival, which runs from January 22 through February 1 in Park City and Salt Lake City, Utah. As excitement builds, the film is already emerging as one of the festival’s most emotionally charged entries.
