Jay Baruchel is set to lead the cast in The Stunt Driver, a thrilling film based on the real-life story of Ken Carter, also known as “The Mad Canadian,” who attempted to perform a daring stunt in the 1970s. The film chronicles Carter’s ambitious goal to jump a rocket-powered car across the St. Lawrence River, spanning from Canada to the United States. Directed by Michael Dowse, the film reunites Baruchel with Dowse, whom he previously worked with on the 2011 comedy Goon. Dowse describes The Stunt Driver as his “white whale project,” showcasing Carter’s relentless drive and the incredible obstacles he faced in his pursuit of this impossible feat.
The film is inspired by the National Film Board of Canada’s 1981 documentary The Devil at Your Heels and will begin production in Montreal this spring. Dowse and Jennifer Wilson are producing the film under their Cardinal Film banner, with Macdara Kelleher and Eoin Egan of Wild Atlantic Pictures also involved.
Baruchel, known for his comedic roles in Tropic Thunder, Knocked Up, and This Is the End, was recently praised for his performance in BlackBerry, which premiered at the Berlin Film Festival. He is also set to appear in the rom-com Mile End Kicks opposite Barbie Ferreira. Dowse, who previously directed Stuber and 8-Bit Christmas, has several upcoming projects, including the action thriller Trap House and the crime comedy series The Sticky on Prime Video.
