Independent Film Company Acquires Comedy ‘The Stunt Driver’ Starring Jay Baruchel As Canadian Daredevil Ken Carter Ahead Of TIFF Premiere
Get the Culture newsletter
Daily culture — film, music, books, the trends and ideas worth your attention. Free.
- Independent Film Company acquired 'The Stunt Driver' ahead of the film's world premiere at the Toronto Film Festival, with Maat (VP of Acquisitions) negotiating the deal opposite UTA.
- IFC sets a U.S. theatrical release date of September 25 for the comedy, marking the distributor's pickup of the buzzy TIFF-bound title.
- Jay Baruchel stars as world champion stunt driver Ken Carter in the mid-1970s-set film, reuniting with director Michael Dowse after their cult hockey comedy 'Goon.'
- Ben Foster plays iconic stuntman Evel Knievel, with Ed Helms, Laurence Leboeuf, and Dan Bakkedahl rounding out the announced cast.
- Dowse told Deadline the film focuses on Carter's humanity over spectacle: 'He was a dreamer who refused to let the world define what was possible,' centering on Carter's attempt at a mile-long rocket car jump across the St. Lawrence river.
- Jennifer Wilson and Dowse produced for Film Cardinal, with Baruchel, Joe Iacono, Dave Bishop, and James Pugh executive producing for Protagonist Pictures alongside Mongrel Media's Andrew Frank and Lisa Wolofsky.
Why it matters: The Stunt Driver gives Independent Film Company a TIFF-tested crowd-pleaser timed for fall awards-adjacent release, and reunites the Dowse-Baruchel duo whose 'Goon' built a cult following — meaning IFC is banking on built-in audience goodwill plus the true-story hook to drive a counterprogramming September opening.
