Patricia Heaton and David Hunt: ‘Unexpected’

The husband-and-wife production team discuss their adoption-themed film.

(L–R) Director of “Unexpected” David Hunt, actor Ryann Shane who plays Ryann Shane who plays Shirlee, and producer Patricia Heaton on the set of “Expected.” Blue Fox Entertainment

In observance of National Infertility Awareness month, producers (and couple) Patricia Heaton and David Hunt are promoting their 2023 comedic drama, “Unexpected,” now available on Amazon Prime Video and YouTube.

Known to most audiences as the female lead in the TV shows “Everybody Loves Raymond” and “The Middle” (nine seasons each), Heaton has now produced a dozen films and TV shows.

Having shared the big screen with Jim Caviezel, Meg Ryan, Albert Finney, and Clint Eastwood, Hunt makes his live-action feature debut as director here.

Heaton and Hunt spoke from their home in Nashville to discuss “Unexpected” and some of their current and future projects.

David Hunt, director of "Unexpected." Courtesy of David Hunt

Michael Clark: I read the synopsis of the book (“Enslaved by Ducks”) that your movie is based on, and there was no mention of adoption (the main theme). Is that correct? David Hunt: Yes, 100 percent. We wrote scripts based on the book, and they weren’t working. I then approached a writer (Rodney Vaccaro) that I’d worked with on several past projects and said, “This needs another engine. Let’s introduce the subjects of infertility and adoption. The wife wants to have kids and the husband doesn’t.” A few weeks later [Vaccaro] came back with the finished screenplay. In doing so, he mentioned that his two daughters were adopted, and the story just poured out of him.

Actress Patricia Heaton, producer of "Unexpected." Kate Romero

Clark: I noticed you made a pro-life movie without actually using those words or mention of abortion. Why do you think adoption has received relatively little attention? Patricia Heaton: The writer [Vaccaro] with the adopted daughters told us it’s a complicated issue. The husband in the movie says, “I don’t think I can adopt another person’s child.” His wife retorts with, “It wouldn’t be another person’s child, it would be our child.” You have these two opposing views; the struggle in the movie is trying to get the couple on the same page mentally.

We’ve been with friends as they’ve gone through the adoption process, and they have the birth mother asking to take the child back. Or, when an adopted child wants to meet their biological parents and whether or not the birth parents will agree. It’s complicated and not nearly as smooth as you might think. Hunt: There’s a stigma in certain places in society regarding adoption and people feel a lot of pressure. One of the goals of the film was we try to take that pressure off a bit by showing this couple’s struggles and giving people a sense of hope.

Clark: Patricia, I noticed Neil Flynn, your co-star from “The Middle,” plays a character named “Rupert Murdoch.” I laughed hard when I first heard it. Is there a reason why that particular name was chosen? Heaton: There’s no reason, and there’s nothing political about it [laughs]. Rodney just thought it was funny.

Clark: Could you give me any details regarding the project you’re now involved with, the “October 7th Coalition?” Hunt: I created it with my friend Elizabeth Dorros. When October 7th happened and I saw the Hamas body cam footage online being celebrated the world over and on U.S. college campuses, I was in shock. I’m a baby boomer and grew up knowing our parents fought in World War II and that Jews were obliterated during the Holocaust. Never again would we let that happen. And then there it was suddenly happening again.

Here in Nashville, there was an awkward feeling; people didn’t know what to do or how to show their support. So we created the “October 7th Coalition” to activate Christians to be visibly and vocally supportive of Israel’s right to exist and to fight anti-Semitism. We have community dinners; we encourage people to put mezuzahs on their doors as a “Spartacus” moment. [We ask people] to be involved in social media, and to donate, if possible, to the many Jewish organizations that are helping to heal people from this second Holocaust.

Clark: You are both appearing in the upcoming movie called “Merv.” When is it being released and what is it about? Hunt: It comes out Dec. 17 on Amazon Prime. Heaton: It’s a romcom. … Hunt: It’s about a couple that becomes estranged, and they have a dog named Merv, who pines for them to get back together. We play the parents of the husband character (Charlie Cox).

Clark: I’ve noticed a lot of people in the entertainment industry, not just musicians, have been moving to Nashville. Why did you two relocate there? Heaton: There’s a lot of artistic momentum going on here now. Initially, it was because our oldest son started music school here in 2012. In the subsequent years, we just began to really love the city.

Clark: “Unexpected” has been out since 2023. Why are you promoting it now? Heaton: April is National Infertility Awareness month.

Poster for "Unexpected." Blue Fox Entertainment

Clark: OK, that makes complete sense. Hunt: We wanted to highlight the issue and especially the emotional aspect of it for couples and what they deal with. What’s so beautiful about “Unexpected” is that you get into the story through humor, and you wouldn’t think you could find humor in a subject matter like this. Rodney was able to bring out the humor, the actors were great, and Dave provided excellent direction.

For me, working on comedies … I’ve always felt comedy is the best way to deal with serious or difficult subjects. Foundationally, you lay it in humor, and your heart literally physically opens up because as you laugh you’re oxygenating your bloodstream, opening everything up. You then come in with the unexpected [dramatic] events, and people are really moved because they’re open and primed.

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