Taika Waititi didn't have to research playing Hitler because he was 'a f**ing c***'

Taika Waititi has said that he didn't do even a minute's research to play Hitler in his new movie, the 'anti-hate satire' called Jojo Rabbit.

That's because the New Zealander, who directed Thor: Ragnarok, and directed and starred in vampire spoof What We Do In The Shadows, had no interest in portraying the Nazi leader accurately.

He says it best, telling Deadline: “I didn’t have to do any research, and I didn’t do any research.

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“I didn’t base him on anything I’d seen about Hitler before. I just made him a version of myself that happened to have a bad haircut and a shitty little moustache. And a mediocre German accent.

“It would just be too weird to play the actual Hitler, and I don’t think people would enjoy the character as much. Because he was such a f***ing c***, and everyone knows that as well.

“I think people have got to relate to really enjoy the ride.”

The strange and enticing project, based on the book Caging Skies by Christine Leunens, centres around Jojo 'Rabbit' Betzler, a young boy (Roman Griffin Davis) and avid member of the Hitler Youth growing up in Nazi Germany.

When he discovers his single mother (Scarlett Johansson) is hiding a young Jewish girl in their attic, he's forced to confront his naïve patriotism.

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However, he has to confront his imaginary friend too, who takes the form of Adolf Hitler.

The movie also stars Sam Rockwell, Rebel Wilson, Stephen Merchant and Alfie Allen, and is set for release in the US in October (there's no confirmed UK release date as yet).

Asked last year why Waititi would want to take on the role of Hitler, particularly considering that his mother is Jewish, he replied: “The answer is simple: what better f**k you to that guy?”