Jojo Rabbit Star Reads Ryan Reynolds, Mark Ruffalo Tweets Praising Film
Taika Waititi posts a video of Jojo Rabbit cast member Archie Yates reading nice celebrity tweets. Set during World War II Germany, the black comedy features Waititi as an imagined version of infamous dictator Adolf Hitler, and hit theaters just last week.
While Jojo Rabbit features big stars like Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell, and Rebel Wilson, the primary narrative is led by a young performer. Roman Griffin Davis stars as the title character, a member of the Hitler Youth who learns that a Jewish girl, Elsa Korr (Thomasin McKenzie), is hiding in the family home. Jojo converses with his imaginary friend, Adolf Hitler, while building a friendship with his new female acquaintance. McKenzie is best known for starring opposite Ben Foster in 2018 indie hit Leave No Trace. Davis is the son of cinematographer Ben Davis, who's filmed various MCU productions, most recently Avengers: Age of Ultron, Doctor Strange, and Captain Marvel. He'll also shoot the upcoming blockbuster The Eternals.
On Twitter, Waititi posted a video of Jojo Rabbit actor Archie Yates reading complimentary messages about the film, including some from A-list stars. In Jojo Rabbit, Yates portrays Yorki - his feature film debut. Waititi prefaces the video by noting that Yates is one of the “nicest people” he’s ever met, and identifies Ryan Reynolds as a “crazy fan.” In the 101-second clip, Yates playfully reacts to tweet from celebrities and fans, including one from Reynolds that reads “Oh my god,” complemented by three “hands to the sky” emojis. Yates keeps the mood light and positive while reading a tweet from Mark Ruffalo, and expresses his thanks while reading tweets from random fans. Check out Waititi’s Jojo Rabbit-themed video below.
In the MCU, Waititi is best known for directing Thor: Ragnarok and for portraying Korg. He’s currently attached to direct the upcoming Phase 4 film Thor: Love and Thunder starring Natalie Portman and Tessa Thompson, with the latter portraying the franchise’s first LGBTQ hero, Valkyrie. As for Jojo Rabbit, Waititi’s new film has received mostly positive reviews. Along with directing, Waititi also wrote the script and co-produced as well. In the past, the filmmaker has delivered memorable performances in films such as Green Lantern and What We Do in the Shadows. Waititi is currently filming an acting role for the DCEU film The Suicide Squad.
For casual moviegoers, a film that’s fundamentally about World War II and Adolf Hitler may not seem that appealing. But like young Jojo Rabbit actor Yates, Waititi has a way of keeping the mood light and positive, a unique way to simultaneously entertain viewers while engaging with them about dark subject matter. However, it remains to be seen whether Jojo Rabbit will resonate with moviegoers during its first month of wide screenings in the United States. The celebrity support will undoubtedly help the Jojo Rabbit promotional campaign.
Source: Taika Waititi