In the biopic of James Stewart, KJ Apa is all set to star as the Hollywood legend. Aaron Burns is the director of the biopic titled Jimmy, which is penned by Justin Strawhand. Serving as the executive producer is Kelly Stewart-Harcourt, James Stewart's daughter. Jason Alexander, Max Casella, Sarah Drew, Julian Works and Jen Lilley will also star in Jimmy.
As per reports, Jimmy will tell the story of Stewart's growth in Hollywood and his work in The Philadelphia Story, which won him an Oscar award, along with his enlistment as a combat pilot in the US Army Air Corps during World War II. After his return home after the war, Stewart starred in It's a Wonderful Life in 1946.
KJ Apa, known for his stint in Riverdale, expressed his pride in being presented with the opportunity to play the legendary actor. He told Variety, "I have always been a huge James Stewart fan and feel so honoured 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. 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 honouring a man who served it with great honour?"
Sharing that his life will make an amazing film, director Burns described James Stewart as "universally beloved". He added, "Jimmy Stewart is universally beloved as an actor. He truly embodied the everyman. We all know him from It's A Wonderful Life, but as I discovered his real-life story as a World War II military hero, I realised Jimmy's life makes for an amazing movie."
James Stewart passed away in 1997 at the age of 89.