Hot off the heels of announcing his plans to direct THOR: LOVE AND THUNDER for Marvel, filmmaker Taika Waititi and Walt Disney Studios have unveiled a teaser trailer and poster for JOJO RABBIT, an anti-hate satire that is sure to get people buzzing.
For the off-kilter Holocaust drama, a young boy in Hitler's army finds out his mother is hiding a Jewish girl in their home. The upcoming war comedy stars Scarlett Johansson as mother Rosie Betzler, Roman Griffin Davis as Rosie's son, Jojo Betzler, Sam Rockwell as Captain Klenzedorf, and Waititi himself as an imaginary Adolf Hitler. Based off the novel Caging Skies by author Christine Leunens with a screenplay by Waititi, JOJO RABBIT also stars Thomasin McKenzie, Rebel Wilson, Alfie Allen and Stephen Merchant, among others.
At one point in JOJO RABBIT's production process, Waititi was asked by Deadline if he had done any research to play one of history's most notorious monsters. Then, like a boss, Waititi revealed that he'd done zero research for the part, on account of that Hitler is "a fucking cunt."
"I didn’t have to do any research, and I didn’t do any research. I didn’t base him on anything I’d seen about Hitler before. I just made him a version of myself that happened to have a bad haircut and a sh*tty little moustache. And a mediocre German accent," said Waititi.
"It would just be too weird to play the actual Hitler, and I don’t think people would enjoy the character as much," Waititi added. "Because he was such a fucking cunt, and everyone knows that as well. I think people have got to relate to really enjoy the ride."
Judging by today's teaser, Waititi certainly looks to be taking a tongue-in-cheek approach to playing Hitler. It's a move that I'm not sure too many actors would be wiling to make, and I for one commend Waititi for having the stones to go through with it. The man obviously has a vision for one of the most hated men in human history … if you can even call him a man, that is.
My loathing for Adolf Hitler aside, is anyone else getting some light Wes Anderson vibes from the film's overall presentation? Perhaps its the cinematography, or the winking approach to comedy that's making me feel this way. Be that as it may, it looks as if we've got one heck of a unique premise coming our way.
JOJO RABBIT will goosestep its way into theaters on October 18.
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