Jay Baruchel Reteaming With ‘Goon’s Michael Dowse On Comedy ‘The Stunt Driver’

EXCLUSIVE: After chronicling the BlackBerry’s rise and fall with Matt Johnson’s lauded IFC film of the same name, Jay Baruchel has come aboard to star in another true story, The Stunt Drivera film chronicling the exploits of daredevil stuntman Ken Carter.

Reuniting Baruchel with Michael Dowse, the filmmaker behind his R-rated 2011 hockey comedy Goon, The Stunt Driver watches as “The Mad Canadian” Carter attempts to execute the boldest maneuver of his career during the 1970s, launching a rocket car off a 90-foot-high ramp across the St. Lawrence River. Covering a span of more than a mile, the stunt would have him jump from Canada into the United States. The film, which Dowse calls his “white whale project,” follows Carter’s quest to make his seemingly impossible dream a reality, chronicling his preparation for the jump and the absurd challenges he faces along the way.

Based on the National Film Board of Canada’s 1981 documentary The Devil at Your Heels, The Stunt Driver is set to enter production in Montreal this spring.

Dowse and Jennifer Wilson will produce through their Cardinal Film banner, along with Macdara Kelleher and Eoin Egan for Wild Atlantic Pictures. The film is financed through Telefilm Canada and with the support of The National Film Board of Canada. Mongrel Media will distribute the film in Canada, with Andrew Frank executive producing alongside Joe Iacono and Baruchel. UTA is handling domestic sales.

Stated Dowse, “Ken Carter’s story speaks to anyone who has dreamed the impossible and been kicked in the teeth trying to achieve it. I couldn’t be more excited to work with my old friend Jay. Jay brings the perfect combination of comedy, belying great dramatic tension to this complex showman.”

Best known for starring in comedies ranging from Knocked Up and Tropic Thunder to This Is the EndBaruchel has recently been seen starring opposite Glenn Howerton and Matt Johnson in the latter’s BlackBerrytelling the true story of the meteoric rise and catastrophic demise of the world’s first smartphone. Pic garnered stellar reviews in its Berlin debut and went on to distribution through IFC Films. Most recently, the veteran comedic actor signed on to star opposite Euphoria‘s Barbie Ferreira in the rom-com Mile End Kicks from XYZ Films.

Previously, Dowse has also directed theatrical comedies like Stuber and Take Me Home Tonightas well as streaming-only efforts like 8-Bit Christmas and Coffee & Kareem. He also collaborated with Baruchel on the FXX comedy Man Seeking Woman and recently worked on the series Me for Apple. Other upcoming projects include the action thriller Trap Housestarring Dave Bautista, and Prime Video’s crime comedy series The Stickyfor which he served as director and executive producer.

Baruchel is represented by Thruline Entertainment, CAA, and Lichter, Grossman, Nichols; Dowse by UTA, Fourth Wall Management, and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller.