Jason Alexander, Max Casella, Sarah Drew, Julian Works, and Jen Lilley are set to costar in the film. Archie goes to Washington? Riverdale star KJ Apa to play J

Jason Alexander, Max Casella, Sarah Drew, Julian Works, and Jen Lilley are set to costar in the film.

Archie goes to Washington? Riverdale star KJ Apa to play Jimmy Stewart in biopic

Jason Alexander, Max Casella, Sarah Drew, Julian Works, and Jen Lilley are set to costar in the film.

By Mekishana Pierre

Published on August 5, 2025 04:42PM EDT

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KJ Apa at the 'Lisa Frankenstein' premiere in Los Angeles; James Stewart circa 1935. Credit:

Alberto Rodriguez/Variety via Getty; Silver Screen Collection/Hulton Archive/Getty

KJ Apa is making a giant leap from *Riverdale* to *A Wonderful Life*.

The 28-year-old actor has been tapped to play famed actor James "Jimmy" Stewart in an upcoming biopic from director and producer Aaron Burns, * *has confirmed.

*Jimmy* chronicles the titular Pennsylvania native's rise in Hollywood, including winning an Academy Award for his work in *The Philadelphia Story*, before enlisting in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a combat pilot at the beginning of World War II. Not long after his return home, he starred in Frank Capra's *It's a Wonderful Life* in 1946.**

James Stewart circa 1945.

Silver Screen Collection/Hulton Archive/Getty

"I have always been a huge James Stewart fan and feel so honored I get to bring his story to life," Apa said in a release obtained by EW on Tuesday. "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 added, "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."

Apa played Archie Andrews across all seven seasons of teen drama *Riverdale*, which aired on The CW from 2017 to 2023. He next appears alongside Madelyn Cline in the Amazon Prime Video romance *The Map That Leads to You*.

Stewart's daughter, Kelly Stewart-Harcourt, who serves as an executive producer of the biopic, shared her family's excitement for the production and Apa's casting.

"My family and I are delighted and excited that KJ Apa has agreed to play my father in this film," she said. "In addition to his considerable acting skills, KJ's enthusiasm for the project will only add to the energy and depth he will bring to the role."

*Variety* first reported the news of Apa's casting in the film.

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Apa will be joined on screen by Jason Alexander as Louis B. Mayer; Max Casella as Frank Capra; Sarah Drew as Hedda Hopper; Julian Works as Second Lieutenant Martinez; and Jen Lilley as Stewart's wife, Gloria.

"Jimmy Stewart is universally beloved as an actor. He truly embodied the everyman," Burns said in a statement. "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 realized Jimmy's life makes for an amazing movie. I'm truly honored that Kelly Stewart-Harcourt and the Stewart family have entrusted Burns & Co. to share *Jimmy* with the world, and I'm excited to see KJ Apa and the rest of our amazing cast bring this story to life."

KJ Apa on 'Riverdale'.

Dean Buscher/The CW

Burns is also producing alongside Justin Strawhand, who wrote the script, David Cook, Angela Galgani Sullivan, and John Norton of Redted Media.

Executive producers also include former Sony executive Andre Caraco, Jack McClintock, Bob Gordon, Sam Juergens, Amy K. Mitchell, Edwina Forkin, Kip Konwiser, Walter Krumm III, and Brian Williams.

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Production on *Jimmy* is scheduled to begin in Ireland this September, with an anticipated theatrical release date in November 2026.**

Original Article on Source

Source: "AOL Movies"

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