KJ Apa stars as Jimmy Stewart in new biopic: See his transformation

Riverdale star KJ Apa is stepping into a new role — and no, it’s not Mr. Fantasy. The teaser trailer for his upcoming biopic, Jimmy, features Apa as actor James “Jimmy” Stewart, and his transformation — and voice — shows he’s really melting into the role.

Per the new teaser, the film begins with Stewart — who rose to fame in the ‘30s and starred in films like It’s a Wonderful Life, Rear Window and The Philadelphia Story — at the height of his movie career. Apa speaks with Stewart’s unique accent throughout the trailer.

In the teaser, Stewart’s enjoyment as a movie star sours as World War II brews. He wants to fight but gets pushback from both Hollywood and the military.

“Don’t I have the right to serve my country just like anyone else does?” Apa’s Stewart asks a military official, played by Rob Riggle.

“America can’t afford to lose Jimmy Stewart,” Riggle’s character responds.

But Stewart doesn’t give up and ultimately enlists in the fight.

In real life, Stewart, who came from a military family, enlisted in the Army in 1941, becoming the first major movie star to join the armed forces in World War II. He returned to the United States in 1945, one year before the release of what might be his most famous film, Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life.

The film also stars Jason Alexander, Kara Killmer, Sarah Drew and Max Casella.

Apa starred as Archie Andrews on the CW’s Riverdale from 2017 to 2023. He recently appeared in Prime Video’s romantic drama The Map That Leads to You, opposite Madelyn Cline. In November, he appeared as Gene in A Very Jonas Christmas Movie on Disney+.

In addition to his work onscreen, Apa has seemingly launched a music career as his alter ego Mr. Fantasy, though it’s unlikely the two will admit they are one and the same. Mr. Fantasy performed live for the first time at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade this year.

Jimmy arrives in theaters on Nov. 6, 2026.