Taika Waititi was “very nervous” about playing an imaginary Hitler in Jojo Rabbit

Jojo Rabbit director and star Taika Waititi was originally very nervous to take on the role of imaginary Hitler, revealing  that it was never his intention to play the character when he was writing the script.

In a recent interview with The Wrap at the Toronto International Film Festival, Waititi stated:

“It wasn’t my intention at all writing the script, and it was actually something Fox Searchlight encouraged me to do. They encouraged me to play the role and I felt very nervous about that. But then I thought, ‘you know what? Once in a generation, an actor comes along who sort of changes the game…’”

Jojo Rabbit co-star Stephen Merchant, who plays a Gestapo officer in the film, jokingly added that the director “couldn’t afford” an actor willing the play Hitler.

The film has been very divisive and polarising so far with mixed reviews due to the subject matter – the film currently sits on 75% on Rotten Tomatoes after debuting with 62% on the day of its premiere – but was the recipient of the Audience Award at the Toronto International Film Festival this past weekend.

What are your thoughts on Waititi taking on the role of Hitler? Are you looking forward to Jojo Rabbit? Let us know in the comments below or tweet us @flickeringmyth…

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.

The film features a cast including Roman Griffin Davis, Taika Waititi, Scarlett Johansson, Sam Rockwell, Rebel Wilson, Thomasin Harcourt McKenzie, Alfie Allen, and Stephen Merchant.

Jojo Rabbit is set for release on October 18th in the US and on January 1st in the UK. It will also screen at the London Film festival on October 5th.