KJ Apa Channels Jimmy Stewart in New Biopic Trailer for It’s a Wonderful Life

NEED TO KNOW

• KJ Apa stars as iconic 20th-century actor Jimmy Stewart in the upcoming biopic titled Jimmy.
• Apa shares the screen with Kara Killmer, Neal McDonough, Max Casella, Jason Alexander, and Christopher McDonald, among others, in a film that delves into Stewart’s life during the 1940s.
• Jimmy is set to be released in theaters on November 6, 2026.

KJ Apa is taking on the role of legendary actor Jimmy Stewart in a new biopic, Jimmy.

On December 17, Burns & Co. unveiled the trailer for Jimmy, which features Apa, 28, most notably known for his role in Riverdale, portraying the Oscar-winning star of It’s a Wonderful Life. The film’s official synopsis highlights a pivotal period in Stewart’s life—narrating his journey from winning the Academy Award for Best Actor in The Philadelphia Story to enlisting as a combat pilot in the U.S. Army Air Corps at the onset of World War II.

The synopsis reads, “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. Then George Bailey and It’s a Wonderful Life came calling…”

Rob Riggle and KJ Apa in ‘Jimmy’.

ONE Media/Youtube

The film also features performances from Kara Killmer, Neal McDonough, Max Casella, Jason Alexander, Christopher McDonald, Sarah Drew, Rob Riggle, Julian Works, and Jen Lilley. Notably, Stewart’s daughter, Kelly Stewart-Harcourt, serves as an executive producer for the project.

In a statement to Variety, Stewart-Harcourt expressed her confidence in Apa’s portrayal: “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. 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.”

Jimmy Stewart, who passed away in 1997 at the age of 89, was a decorated veteran who enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II, eventually rising to the rank of commanding officer. Throughout his illustrious career, Stewart received an Academy Award for his role in the 1940 film The Philadelphia Story and garnered nominations for his performances in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, It’s a Wonderful Life, Harvey, and Anatomy of a Murder. He and his wife, Gloria, had four children, including Kelly.

KJ Apa in ‘Jimmy’.

ONE Media/Youtube

Initially reported in August, KJ Apa expressed his enthusiasm about portraying Stewart, stating, “I have always been a huge James Stewart fan and feel so honored I get to bring his story to life. 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.”

He emphasized the importance of honoring Stewart, adding, “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.”

Jimmy will be released in theaters on November 6, 2026.