'Jimmy' Brings Jimmy Stewart's Untold War Years and Quiet Faith to the Big Screen, Opening in the Top 10
The new film follows the Hollywood star who walked away from fame at its peak to fly bombers over Europe, and the faith and family that carried him home to make 'It's a Wonderful Life.' It arrived just in time for Veterans Day.
By CHLOE BENNETTEntertainment & Celebrity · Nov 11, 6:39 PM
CALIFORNIA — Long before he became George Bailey, the beloved small-town hero of "It's a Wonderful Life," Jimmy Stewart left Hollywood at the height of his fame to fight a war. A new film now tells that story, and audiences are turning out.
"Jimmy," a dramatized biopic starring KJ Apa as Stewart, debuted at No. 10 at the box office with about $2.2 million, CBN News reported. It opened in theaters on Nov. 6 and is distributed by Fathom Entertainment, according to The Christian Post, following a red-carpet premiere in Texas on Nov. 4, EWTN News reported.
The film is directed by Aaron Burns, whose earlier credits include work on the faith-based films "War Room" and "The Forge," CBN reported. It was produced by Papaian Studios. Neal McDonough plays Stewart's father, Alexander, and the cast also includes Rob Riggle, Sarah Drew, Jen Lilley, Kara Killmer, Christopher McDonald and Max Casella, The Christian Post reported.
Burns told CBN he became interested in the project after reading an article Stewart wrote for Guideposts magazine about making "It's a Wonderful Life," and that he had not known about the actor's war service.
That service was remarkable. Stewart served from 1941 to 1945 and deployed to…