KJ Apa on Becoming Jimmy Stewart: 'I Don't Look Anything Like Him' — SkimNews
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- KJ Apa stars as Jimmy Stewart in the biopic "Jimmy," directed by Aaron Burns and in theaters Nov. 6, after initially doubting the fit because "I don't look anything like him."
- The film chronicles Stewart winning the Oscar for "The Philadelphia Story" in 1941, then flying 20 B-24 missions over Europe and rising to colonel before returning home unsure whether he was "a retired actor or a retired pilot."
- Apa worked with dialect coach Eliza Simpson, rewatching all of Stewart's films and rehearsing his voice "every second of every day," fearing the performance would sound like an "SNL" skit.
- Apa frames "It's a Wonderful Life" as therapy for the war-traumatized Stewart, noting that Stewart's daughter Kelly told him her father felt lost after returning from service and that Frank Capra's script gave him a way forward.
- Apa will receive a Spotlight Award on Oct. 18 at the Newport Beach Film Festival, and "Jimmy" had its world premiere at the Heartland Film Festival in Indianapolis.
- Apa denied persistent rumors that he is the masked singer Mr. Fantasy, saying "no" but praising the performer's confidence.
- On Dylan Sprouse's "Wildmen" podcast, Apa discussed his eating disorder and addiction recovery, saying "This is a huge part of who I am" and noting that fans thanked him for the candor.
Why it matters: The biopic marks Apa's pivot from CW teen idol on "Riverdale" to serious film actor, while his candid discussion of addiction and recovery reshapes how fans see the "Archie" star. The film also gives theatrical audiences a dramatized look at Stewart's 20 combat missions and post-war identity crisis — details Kelly Stewart personally shared with Apa during preparation.
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