With writer-directorTaika Waititi’sJojo Rabbitnow playing in limited release, I recently sat down withSam Rockwell,Stephen Merchant&Alfie Allenfor an exclusive interview. As you’ve probably heard me say a number of times,Jojo Rabbitis one of my favorite films of the year and Waititi has written and directed a fantastic anti-hate satire set in Nazi Germany. While I figured he would craft something special,Jojo Rabbitwas well above my lofty expectations and many others had the same opinion as itwon the coveted People’s Choice Awardat this year’s Toronto International Film Festival against some serious competition.
If you haven’t seen the trailers,Jojo Rabbitfollows a lonely 10-year-old boy Jojo (Roman Griffin Davis) in Nazi Germany whose imaginary best friend Adolf Hitler (Waititi) eggs him on. But Jojo’s loyalties and beliefs are tested when he discovers that his mother (Scarlett Johansson) is hiding a young Jewish girl (Thomasin McKenzie) in their attic. The film also starsRebel Wilson. For more onJojo Rabbit, you canread Matt Goldberg’s revieworwatch this exclusive clip.
During my interview withSam Rockwell,Stephen Merchant&Alfie Allen, they talked about their reaction to reading the script for the first time, how it’s important to constantly remind people what really happened during WW2, how everyone is so politically correct nowadays and people are less willing to take risks, what it was like filming on the same soundstages in Prague where the Nazis shot propaganda, why Stephen Merchant was constantly trying to get Sam Rockwell to laugh and ruin takes, and more.
Check out what they had to say in the player above and below is exactly what we talked about.
Sam Rockwell, Stephen Merchant & Alfie Allen:
Here’s the official synopsis forJojo Rabbit:
Writer director Taika Waititi (THOR: RAGNAROK, HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE), brings his signature style of humor and pathos to his latest film, JOJO RABBIT, a World War II satire that follows a lonely German boy (Roman Griffin Davis as JoJo) whose world view is turned upside down when he discovers his single mother (Scarlett Johansson) is hiding a young Jewish girl (Thomasin McKenzie) in their attic. Aided only by his idiotic imaginary friend, Adolf Hitler (Taika Waititi), Jojo must confront his blind nationalism.
