From Tony Danza’s ukulele playing and pranks to the secret of why this comedy makes everyone cry, the Re-Election cast spills it all in this interview.
High school has a funny way of following us. For some, it’s a fond memory of Friday night lights; for others, like Jimmy Bauer, it’s a haunting “what if” that persists decades later. In the new film Re-Election, we meet Jimmy (played by Adam Saunders), a 40-something man stuck in a rut, working at his father’s memorabilia store. His life stalled in 1995 after a crushing defeat in the race for class president led him to drop out. Now, thirty years later, he’s going back to finish high school and finally win that election.
But as the cast and crew revealed as they sat down with Tessa Smith, Re-Election is far more than a simple back-to-school comedy. It’s a heartfelt exploration of second chances, generational bridges, and the courage it takes to get out of your own way.
Adam Saunders Wore All The Hats In The Making Of Re-Election
Adam Saunders didn’t just play the lead; he wrote, directed, and produced the film. While that sounds like a recipe for a high-stress set, Saunders viewed it as a way to cultivate freedom. “Tension is the death of good acting,” Saunders noted, explaining that his goal was to create a safe space where his collaborators could truly play.
This sentiment was echoed by Patty Guggenheim and Kym Whitley, who bring a powerhouse energy to the film. Whitley, who plays a role of power (and gets to be a little “mean”), shared her fascination with Saunders’ process.
“I had to ask him… how are you memorizing these shots and the chunks of lines?” Saunders’ secret? When he was in a scene, he was just an actor. He didn’t direct while the cameras were rolling, allowing his co-stars and himself to stay present in the moment.
Noa Is The Heart Of Re-Election
While Jimmy is the protagonist, the soul of the film belongs to Noa, played by Bex Taylor-Klaus. Noa is a non-binary Gen-Alpha student who becomes Jimmy’s unlikely guide through the modern high school landscape.
“Noah is everything,” Taylor-Klaus shared. “The kind of kid I wish I had been… a completely capable, powerful, and fabulous non-binary person.” What makes Noa so refreshing is that the character isn’t defined by trauma or bullying. Instead, Noa is the most capable person in the room – they just don’t realize it yet. This theme of “standing in one’s own way” resonates across the entire cast, from Jimmy to his father, played by the legendary Tony Danza.
Tony Danza Is The Absolute Legend We All Expect Him To Be
Speaking of Tony Danza, the TV comedy icon brought more than just his acting chops to the production. The cast fondly remembered him as a mentor and a prankster who often broke out his ukulele between takes. Saunders described their bond as “avuncular,” noting that Danza was the first person to commit to the project and never wavered during the long process of independent filmmaking.
Whitley and Guggenheim also highlighted Danza’s commitment to education; he famously spent a year teaching at an inner-city school, a real-life experience that adds a layer of depth to the film’s educational setting.
Though the film leans into 80s and 90s nostalgia – a “throwback vibe” that Patty Guggenheim loved – it has found a surprising audience: actual high schoolers.
“We thought it was going to be a 35-plus nostalgia audience,” Saunders admitted. “But the high school audience has really surprised us in how much they’ve loved the film.” Perhaps it’s because the film addresses modern realities like gender-neutral bathrooms and evolving social dynamics with grace and humor, rather than judgment.
Ultimately, Re-Election delivers a powerful message about the value of learning for learning’s sake. As Guggenheim put it, “Soak up the knowledge… it just fills out your life.” Whether you’re a 14-year-old freshman or a 40-year-old returnee, the film reminds us that while we can’t change how we started, we have every opportunity to decide how we finish.
Be sure to watch the full interview with the cast of Re-Election to learn more about this beautiful film and the making of it.
Re-Election is available to buy or rent on Prime Video and Apple TV.