Jojo Rabbit Cast & Character Guide

The Jojo Rabbit cast consists of MCU stars, famed comedians, and more, and together they all make the ambitious comedy work. MCU veteran Taika Waititi wrote and directed the black comedy film, which is based on Christine Leunens 2008 novel Caging Skies and was produced by Fox Searchlight and released by Walt Disney Studios (due to the Disney-Fox deal closing before the film premiered).

Set during World War II, Jojo Rabbit centers on a 10-year-old German boy who grows up under the rule of Adolf Hitler, and he ultimately learns that a Jewish teenager is being hid in the family home. In a bizarre and controversial twist, Jojo has an imaginary friend named Adolf Hitler, who appears on screen just like the historical figure but acts much, much differently. Considering that Hitler orchestrated the mass execution of over six million Jews, Jojo Rabbit‘s subject matter is a sensitive issue for many.

Given the comedic aspects of the film, some people may be curious to see how it compares to other World War II-themed features, including Quentin Tarantino’s Inglourious Basterds, a film that also includes a fictionalized version of the infamous dictator. Waititi gathered quite a group for the Jojo Rabbit cast; here’s everyone that stars in the satire film.

Last Updated: October 18, 2019

Roman Griffin Davis As Jojo “Rabbit” Betzler

A lonely German boy, Jojo is forced to grow up quickly in World War II Germany. He discovers and befriends a Jewish girl, with the experience forever altering his worldview.

Roman Griffin Davis makes his feature film debut in Jojo Rabbit. He’s the son of cinematographer Ben Davis, who filmed the MCU movies Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Doctor Strange, Captain Marvel, and the upcoming Phase 4 installment The Eternals. Davis’ mother is Camille Griffin, known for her technical work on Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace and the 2004 Daniel Craig film Layer Cake.

Scarlett Johansson As Rosie Betzler

Jojo’s mother, Rosie Betzler, pretends to support the real Hitler in Jojo Rabbit but secretly opposes the Nazi party. Incidentally, she hides a Jewish girl in the family home.

MCU fans certainly know Scarlett Johansson for portraying Black Widow in several franchise films. Her movie resume dates back 25 years, though, with her breakthrough performance coming in the 1998 Robert Redford drama The Horse Whisperer. Since then, Johansson has received four Golden Globe nominations for Lost in Translation, Girl with a Pearl Earring, A Love Song for Bobby Long, and Match Point. She headlines the main cast for Noah Baumbach’s 2019 Netflix film Marriage Story.

Thomasin McKenzie As Elsa Korr

Hoping to survive Hitler’s persecution of Jews, Elsa Korr is hidden within Jojo’s home. Upon being discovered by the boy, the two characters establish a bond and learn more about not only themselves, but also about the world around them.

A New Zealand native, Thomasin McKenzie co-starred with Ben Foster in the 2018 indie hit Leave No Trace. In 2014, she played Astrid in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies. McKenzie has a supporting role in the 2019 Netflix historical drama The King, and has a main role in Edgar Wright’s 2020 thriller Last Night in Soho.

Taika Waititi As Adolf Hitler

As Jojo’s imaginary friend, Adolf Hitler provides comic relief. The character serves as an ironic counterpoint to the film’s underlying conflict, and reinforces Jojo’s naivete as German kid trying to understand how the world works, certainly during World War II Germany.

Along with directing MCU films, Waititi voices the character Korg. He also has acting roles in The Suicide Squad and the Disney+ series The Mandalorian. Along with collaborator Jemaine Clement, Waititi co-wrote and starred in the 2014 horror comedy What We Do in the Shadows.

Sam Rockwell As Captain Klenzendorf

In Jojo Rabbit, Captain Klenzendorf runs a Hitler Youth Camp. Over the past 30 years, Sam Rockwell has emerged from a fascinating character actor into a legitimate A-list Hollywood star. He’s best known for starring in Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, Moon, Seven Psychopaths, and the polarizing yet incredibly successful 2017 film Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. With a knack for portraying endearing yet quirky characters, Rockwell will further diversify his resume by portraying a Nazi captain.

Rebel Wilson As Fräulein Rahm

Fräulein Rahm works alongside Captain Klenzendorf at the Hitler Youth Camp in Jojo Rabbit. Australian actress Rebel Wilson stars as Fat Amy in the Pitch Perfect movie series. She’s an accomplished comedic performer, and produced the 2019 films The Hustle and Isn’t It Romantic. Wilson first emerged in the entertainment industry as a regular cast member on the Australian series Fat Pizza and The Wedge. Now, she’s slowly developing into a Hollywood mogul-in-the-making.

Stephen Merchant As Captain Deertz

Another Nazi character, Captain Deetz works for the Gestapo in Jojo Rabbit. A long-time collaborator of Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant co-created the original BBC series The Office, which was later developed into a popular NBC series in America. Merchant also co-created the comedy series Extra with Gervais, and they worked together with Karl Pilkington for The Ricky Gervais Show, a podcast that complements the travel series An Idiot Abroad. On the big screen, Merchant made his feature debut in Edgar Wright’s 2007 film Hot Fuzz, and recently had roles in The Girl in the Spider’s Web, Fighting with My Family, and Good Boys.

Alfie Allen As Finkel

Finkel assists Captain Klenzendorf in Jojo Rabbit. In pop culture, English actor Alfie Allen is undeniably best known as Theon Greyjoy from Game of Thrones. Prior to landing his iconic HBO role, he appeared in notable films such as Elizabeth and Atonement, and he’s since starred in big films such as John Wick and The Predator. Allen’s sister is pop star Lily Allen. His father is Welsh actor Keith Allen (Kingsman: The Golden Circle), and his mother is film producer Alison Owen, who is collaborating with the family of the late Amy Winehouse for an upcoming biopic.

About The Author

Q.V. Hough
(1892 Articles Published)

Q.V. Hough is a senior writer at Screen Rant. He’s also the founding editor at Vague Visages, and has contributed to RogerEbert.com and Fandor.

See also  Skyrim's BOTW Gear Is A First For The Elder Scrolls Series

More From Q.V. Hough