KJ Apa brought Jimmy to New York on Tuesday, October 20, attending a special screening of the biopic in which he plays Hollywood legend James Stewart.
The 29-year-old actor, best known as Archie Andrews on Riverdale, was joined by costars Max Casella and Jen Lilley, along with director Aaron Burns. Casella portrays filmmaker Frank Capra, while Lilley plays Stewart’s wife, Gloria.
“The goal is to give an honest performance while not being impressionistic,” Apa told Entertainment Weekly in an October 10 interview about finding Stewart’s voice.
Stewart’s daughter, Kelly Stewart Harcourt, is an executive producer and also appears in the movie. She visited the production in Ireland and shared memories of her father with Apa.
KJ Apa Joins His ‘Jimmy’ Costars for a New York Screening
KJ Apa looks sharp as he attends a special screening of his new movie “Jimmy” in NYC!
— JustJared.com (@JustJared) October 22, 2026
Apa wore a dark suit and pale blue tie, while Lilley chose a black strapless dress with decorative detailing. The event took place at the SAG-AFTRA Foundation’s Robin Williams Center, hosted by The Cinema Society and Burns & Co. Entertainment.
Producers Angela Galgani Sullivan and Jack McClintock also attended. After the screening, the group continued celebrating at The Skylark, according to Just Jared.
The New York gathering followed the film’s October 8 screening at the Heartland International Film Festival in Indianapolis, part of a series of events before its theatrical opening.
Apa Worked With a Dialect Coach and Recreated a George Bailey Scene
During an October 21 appearance on TODAY, Apa credited dialect coach Eliza Simpson with helping him develop Stewart’s distinctive voice.
After reading the script, Apa studied It’s a Wonderful Life. Recreating George Bailey’s desperate prayer at Martini’s bar initially made him want to match Stewart exactly, he told EW, but Burns discouraged a copy. Jimmy connects that scene to the actor’s return from combat.
Karolyn Grimes Had a Blunt First Reaction to Apa
Karolyn Grimes, who played George Bailey’s daughter Zuzu in It’s a Wonderful Life, makes an appearance in the biopic. Apa recalled laughingly on TODAY that their first meeting on set began with an observation: “You look nothing like Jimmy Stewart.”
He said Grimes later approached him after watching the finished film and offered kind words about his performance. Her approval mattered especially because she had worked alongside the man he was portraying.
Apa also said Kelly’s positive response was among the most important reactions he could receive. He wanted the people who knew Stewart to feel that the movie had treated him authentically.
‘Jimmy’ Follows Stewart From Hollywood to World War II
Stewart entered the Army Air Corps in March 1941, weeks after winning the Best Actor Oscar for The Philadelphia Story and before the United States entered World War II. He flew bomber missions over Europe and reached the rank of colonel during the war, according to the Air Force Reserve Command. He continued serving in the Air Force Reserve afterward, eventually becoming a brigadier general.
The film follows his military service and his eventual return to acting in the 1946 Christmas classic. Burns directed from a screenplay by Justin Strawhand, with the supporting cast portraying figures from Stewart’s family, Hollywood career and wartime experiences.
Jason Alexander plays MGM executive Louis B. Mayer, Sarah Drew appears as gossip columnist Hedda Hopper, and Christopher McDonald portrays Lionel Barrymore. Neal McDonough plays Stewart’s father, Alexander. Kara Killmer, Rob Riggle, Julian Works and Jemma Donovan also appear.
A November 4 screening in Fort Worth, Texas, is scheduled in conjunction with the Lone Star Film Festival and Papaian Studios. Burns & Co. Entertainment and Fathom Entertainment will release Jimmy nationwide on November 6, 2026, as confirmed by the official website.