In a Deadline exclusive, Jay Baruchel is set to reteam with director Michael Dowse (Goon) for The Stunt Driver, a film based on the true story of Canadian daredevil Ken Carter. Known as “The Mad Canadian,” Carter became a legend in the 1970s for attempting one of the most audacious stunts in history: launching a rocket-powered car off a 90-foot ramp over the St. Lawrence River, aiming to jump from Canada into the United States.
The film, inspired by the 1981 National Film Board of Canada documentary The Devil at Your Heels, will chronicle Carter’s preparation for the stunt and the chaotic challenges he faced along the way. Dowse describes the project as his “white whale,” a story about chasing seemingly impossible dreams despite constant setbacks.
Baruchel, best known for his comedic roles in Knocked Up and This Is the End, has been making a name for himself in more dramatic territory. Most recently, he starred in BlackBerry, a critically acclaimed film about the rise and fall of the world’s first smartphone.
Baruchel has also been the subject of speculation for potential roles, with fans imagining him as Shaggy in a possible Scooby-Doo movie and as Geddy Lee in a rumored Rush biopic—hypothetical castings that highlight his perceived versatility as an actor.
The team behind The Stunt Driver includes Dowse and Jennifer Wilson (Cardinal Film), Macdara Kelleher, and Eoin Egan (Wild Atlantic Pictures). With production starting this spring in Montreal, the film is supported by Telefilm Canada, the National Film Board of Canada, and Mongrel Media, which will handle Canadian distribution.