In the first full look at Taika Waititi’s anti-hate satire “Jojo Rabbit,” Waititi’s performance as an imaginary version of Adolf Hitler takes a back seat to the film’s plot about a boy who is eager to belong in Nazi Germany, but slowly realizes that it’s not the fun he imagined.
Roman Griffin Davis stars in the film as an ambitious young Nazi named Jojo, who happens to have Hitler as his imaginary best friend. In this new look we see officers played by Sam Rockwell, Rebel Wilson and Stephen Merchant all encouraging and nurturing his spirit for his country. They show him ambush techniques, how to blow stuff up or burn books. But everything changes when Jojo realizes his mom, played by Scarlett Johansson, is harboring a Jewish girl, played by Thomasin McKenzie, in their attic.
“You’re not a Nazi, Jojo. You’re a 10-year-old kid who likes to dress up in a funny uniform and wants to be part of a club,” McKenzie’s character says.
The trailer even has two German-sung versions of the songs “I’m a Believer” and David Bowie’s “Heroes” that make this colorful and quirky trailer come to life even more.
“Jojo Rabbit” is playing at TIFF this month, and Fox Searchlight is releasing it in theaters on Oct. 18.
Watch the new trailer for the film above.