Dylan O’Brien Opens Up: Surprised to Land Gritty Role in River Gallo’s Powerful Film Ponyboi

The independent crime drama Ponyboi, written and led by River Gallo, found its way to a limited theatrical run last year, followed by a home release on July 4, attracting attention for its gripping story of identity and acceptance. The film focuses on Ponyboi, an intersex sex worker navigating a dangerous world while clashing with his pimp Vinny, played by Dylan O’Brien, before embarking on a desperate escape.

The film‘s emotional depth comes from Gallo’s personal connection to the story, blended with Esteban Arango’s distinctive directing style that mixes realism with surreal elements. Scenes range from everyday moments at a laundromat to intense moments like a drug deal gone wrong, all interwoven with Ponyboi’s strained relationship with his family. The cast, including Rodriguez Bartlett from The White Lotus, Victoria Pedretti of You, and Indya Moore from Pose, enhances the film’s powerful dynamic.

River Gallo’s Blending of Reality and Imagination in Ponyboi

For River Gallo, Ponyboi is a deeply personal project that combines elements of the real with the surreal to express complex emotions and experiences. Gallo describes inhabiting a “dream world” since childhood, inspired by filmmakers like David Lynch who blur lines between fantasy and reality.

The film channels traumatic experiences from Gallo’s life, especially as an intersex individual facing difficult medical challenges. They explained,

“There’s a healthy dose of dissociation that I’ve had to incorporate into my being in order to deal with some really difficult things that I had to go through as a kid, particularly around being intersex and the medical experiences that I had to deal with.”

—River Gallo, Actor and Creator

Despite the pain, Ponyboi’s story is ultimately about healing and self-worth. Gallo states,

“I do think, at the end of the day, the movie is about someone finding redemption and someone realizing that they’re worthy. They’re so much more worthy than they thought they were of achieving acceptance of themselves.”

—River Gallo, Actor and Creator

Dylan O’Brien Takes a Bold Step with a Role Outside His Usual Range

Dylan O’Brien’s casting as Vinny marks a departure from his well-known roles, motivated by his desire to explore new creative territories. Upon reading the script, he shared,

“Fortunately, yes, I was lucky enough to receive this script and read it to potentially take a meeting with River and Esteban and participate if all mutually felt like that was the vibe. And when I first reacted to the screenplay itself, I was like, ‘This is one of the coolest things I’ve ever read.’”

—Dylan O’Brien, Actor

O’Brien was initially surprised to be considered for the character of Vinny, reflecting on the limitations actors sometimes face when they become associated with certain types of roles. He explained,

“I really loved that I was even given a chance to be this guy. It’s not something I think ordinarily people would believe in me for. As an actor, so much of your range and ability comes down to opportunity. Sometimes when you succeed in a space, which is obviously a fantastic thing, it can paint you in a certain way and not afford you different opportunities. You might always be thought of for the same thing.”

—Dylan O’Brien, Actor

Grateful for the trust placed in him by Gallo and Arango, O’Brien emphasized their instant connection, both personally and creatively. He said,

“We hit the ground running, even just from the first Zoom. River and I are the same age, and we’re both from North Jersey, and there’s just a connectivity there. It just felt right out of the gate, and it felt safe and trusting, and it was going to be a really artful and collaborative venture. It’s everything that you look for, basically.”

—Dylan O’Brien, Actor

O’Brien also appreciated the film’s nostalgic 2000s North Jersey setting and its mix of crime thriller elements with humor. He noted,

“There are so many unique aspects to it, and yet it follows such a nostalgic, old-school structure of this ’90s crime thriller or neo-noir. I love the set and setting of North Jersey in the early 2000s, which threw a lot of humor into it. It was really well infused, I thought. And I just understood the voice and the language.”

—Dylan O’Brien, Actor

How Ponyboi Reflects River Gallo’s Personal Journey Without Being a True Autobiography

While Ponyboi draws heavily on River Gallo’s own experiences, it is not a direct retelling of their life. Gallo described the project as emotionally autobiographical but clarified its nature as a reflection on their self-perception. They stated,

“I would say it’s very emotionally autobiographical. I think Ponyboi is really a meditation on how I’ve perceived myself either worthy or unworthy of love at different points in my life. Ponyboi feels like if I let all my vices just fly and decided to not give a s–t about my life. I would probably be living under a laundromat in New Jersey with a meth dealing pimp. But I’ve decided to make better choices than that.”

—River Gallo, Actor and Creator

Although Gallo identifies closely with Ponyboi, they distinguish themselves by not engaging in the character’s self-destructive behaviors, joking,

“But in many ways, I am Ponyboi. There’s not really much separation, other than those details of not doing meth.”

—River Gallo, Actor and Creator

Gallo finds the role challenging yet fulfilling, as it demands a broad acting range. They shared,

“It was a really hard role that I wrote for myself, and one that I was so thrilled to do because it encompassed such a broad spectrum for an actor. There’s action in it, there’s drama, there are comedic bits.”

—River Gallo, Actor and Creator

Furthermore, Gallo expressed how the film has been a source of strength and nourishment amid an industry with limited roles for trans, non-binary, and intersex actors. They said,

“It’s sustained and nourished me as an artist in an industry where it is hard for people like me – who are trans, non-binary, intersex – to have any role or footing in a movie. Creating a role in which I could thoughtfully [deal with that] takes a lot of f–king bravery.”

—River Gallo, Actor and Creator

Dylan O’Brien Reacts to News of a Possible Maze Runner Revival

Reflecting on his earlier career, Dylan O’Brien revisited his experience in the Maze Runner franchise amid rumors of a continuation under the original director. He admitted surprise upon hearing about the project, remarking,

“I don’t even get a call, let alone a check!”

—Dylan O’Brien, Actor

O’Brien elaborated on the situation, noting that the producers seem more interested in capitalizing on the previous success than involving him again. He said,

“It doesn’t seem like they’re interested in having me because I haven’t heard about it. They’re interested in capitalizing on the success for the thing that we built and not even acknowledging or giving us any slice of the pie. But hey, that’s how it goes, baby.”

—Dylan O’Brien, Actor

Acknowledging that this was the first time he had heard about the revival rumored in the industry, he reflected on his past thoughts about a prequel. He continued,

“This is genuinely the first time I’m hearing about it. I had once thought there was a prequel or something that was happening.”

—Dylan O’Brien, Actor

Despite the uncertainty around the franchise, O’Brien spoke fondly of both Maze Runner and the TV series Teen Wolf, emphasizing their importance in his growth as an actor. He shared,

“The show Teen Wolf is very similar [to Maze Runner] for me. These are very fundamentally informative experiences for me in this industry, and these were massive experiences for me as a young adult… I learned so much from these hours on these sets.”

—Dylan O’Brien, Actor

He concluded about the potential new projects,

“These will always be things that I hold dearly with me, but as far as these new iterations of them? I don’t know. I mean, that’s a whole different chapter, and I guess I would tackle it if it were brought to me.”

—Dylan O’Brien, Actor

Ponyboi’s Availability and Continuing Impact

Ponyboi is currently playing at select theaters and will be available for home rental starting July 4. The film’s emotionally charged exploration of identity combined with its innovative storytelling and outstanding performances is expected to resonate widely. With Dylan O’Brien stepping beyond his usual roles and River Gallo sharing a compelling personal vision, the movie stands as a hopeful contribution to discussions of acceptance and self-worth.

This release may also open doors for more diverse storytelling in mainstream independent cinema, highlighting voices that often remain unheard. Viewers seeking an intense, heartfelt narrative that challenges conventional genre boundaries will find Ponyboi an unforgettable experience.

Our Reader’s Queries

Q. Is Dylan O’Brien a BTS fan?

A. Dylan O’Brien shared that his worries about the safety of a “Maze Runner” stunt were not taken seriously before his accident. He explained that at 24, he voiced his concerns about their approach, but they weren’t heard or valued. Unfortunately, those fears became a reality.