The first teaser trailer for the highly anticipated Jimmy Stewart biopic, titled “Jimmy,” has officially been released, offering a stunning first look at Riverdale star KJ Apa as the iconic American actor and war hero. The footage, which debuted today, has already set the internet ablaze as fans and critics alike react to Apa’s uncanny transformation into the man often called the “conscience of Hollywood.”
Directed by Aaron Burns, the film looks to move beyond a simple career retrospective. The teaser opens with a powerful meta-moment, showing Apa on a recreated set of the 1946 classic “It’s a Wonderful Life.” He perfectly captures Stewart’s signature drawl and hesitant, soulful delivery during the famous George Bailey prayer scene. The trailer then pivots to the early 1940s, a period that the film identifies as the most transformative “season” of Stewart’s life.
What makes this project particularly notable is the heavy involvement of Stewart’s own family. His daughter, Kelly Stewart-Harcourt, serves as an executive producer and has publicly praised Apa’s performance, noting that he managed to capture her father’s essence without falling into a hollow impersonation. The film was largely shot in Ireland, which was used to recreate the atmosphere of 1940s England where Stewart was stationed during the war.
The biopic focuses on the high-stakes period after Stewart won his Academy Award for “The Philadelphia Story.” Instead of coasting on his fame, Stewart fought a different kind of battle: the one to serve his country. The trailer highlights his struggle to enlist—initially being rejected for being underweight—and his eventual rise to become a combat pilot. We see glimpses of high-octane B-24 Liberator flight sequences and the internal toll that flying 20 missions over Europe took on the star before he returned home to film the movie that would define his legacy.
The supporting cast is equally impressive. Jason Alexander appears as MGM mogul Louis B. Mayer, while Max Casella takes on the role of legendary director Frank Capra. The film also features Jen Lilley as Stewart’s wife, Gloria, and Neal McDonough as his father, Alexander Stewart. Christopher McDonald rounds out the ensemble as Lionel Barrymore, and Rob Riggle portrays Colonel Terrill.
“Jimmy” is scheduled to arrive exclusively in theaters on November 6, 2026. This first look suggests a deeply emotional journey that explores the intersection of Hollywood glamour and the raw reality of military service, proving that for Jimmy Stewart, life truly was wonderful, even when it was at its most difficult.