KJ Apa Plays Big Screen Legend Jimmy Stewart in ‘Jimmy’ Biopic Trailer

KJ Apa is channeling screen icon Jimmy Stewart in a new biopic.

On Wednesday, Dec. 17, Burns & Co. released the trailer for the movie Jimmy, which sees Riverdale alum Apa, 28, portray the Oscar-winning actor and It’s a Wonderful Life star Stewart. An official synopsis for the movie says that Jimmy “focuses on the most transformative season in Jimmy Stewart’s life — from winning the Academy Award for Best Actor in The Philadelphia Story to enlisting and becoming a combat pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps at the beginning of World War II.” 

“He flew twenty missions over Europe, rising to the rank of colonel by the end of the war, only to return home broken and disheartened,” the synopsis reads. “Then George Bailey and It’s a Wonderful Life came calling…”

Jimmy also stars Kara Killmer, Neal McDonough, Max Casella, Jason Alexander, Christopher McDonald, Sarah Drew, Rob Riggle, Julian Works and Jen Lilley. Stewart’s daughter Kelly Stewart-Harcourt is also working on the movie as an executive producer. 

“I have long thought that it would be hard to find an actor who could bring my father to life without doing an extended Jimmy Stewart impersonation,” Stewart-Harcourt told Variety of the movie. “But that actor has been found and his name is KJ Apa. I was privileged enough to visit the set in Ireland this last September, and there, I felt a magic. I know this will be conveyed in the film, and I can’t wait to see it.”

Stewart died in 1997 at age 89. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II, becoming a commanding officer. In addition to his win at the Academy Awards for 1940’s The Philadelphia Story, he was nominated for 1939’s Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, 1946’s It’s a Wonderful Life, 1950’s Harvey and 1959’s Anatomy of a Murder. He and his wife Gloria welcomed four children together, including Kelly.

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Apa was first reported to be portraying Stewart in the movie back in August. “I have always been a huge James Stewart fan and feel so honored I get to bring his story to life,” he told Variety in a statement at the time. “As someone from New Zealand, I’ve long admired that generation of American men who stood for patriotism, integrity, and a deep sense of duty.”

“It is important to me to give back to a country that has given me so much, and what better way to do that than by honoring a man who served it with great honor,” he added.

Jimmy is in theaters Nov. 6, 2026.