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The Independent Film Company has unveiled new stills from ”The Stunt Driver,“ which is making its world premiere at the Toronto Intl. Film Festival Sept. 11. The Independent Film Company, which acquired the film July
21, will release the comedy-drama Sept. 25 theatrically.
“The Stunt Driver,“ set in the mid-1970s, recounts the story of Canada’s Ken Carter, the world champion stunt driver who battles personal demons (and struggles under the long shadow of the more famous American stunt performer Evel Knievel) and public doubt to attempt what everyone considers impossible — a mile-long jump across the St. Lawrence River in a rocket car.
Michael Dowse directed and penned the screenplay. Jay Baruchel plays Carter, with Laurence Leboeuf as his steadfastly loving wife, Gloria. Ed Helms tackles the role of technician Dick Keller, who Carter enlists to design and build the rocket car. They end up in a poignant friendship over the years it takes to develop the car and plan the daring jump. Dan Bakkedahl also stars while Ben Foster makes an appearance as Knievel — Carter’s nemesis, or so he imagines.
Carter‘s daring exploits were first brought to the screen in Robert Fortier’s 1981 documentary ”The Devil at Your Heels,“ the making of which is a key part of Dowse’s film.
Dowse and Baruchel brought the hit ice hockey feature ”Goon“ to TIFF in 2011.
The film is produced by Jennifer Wilson and Michael Dowse for Film Cardinal, and executive produced by Baruchel, Joe Iacono, Dave Bishop and James Pugh for Protagonist Pictures, Lisa Wolofsky, Andrew Frank for Mongrel Media, and Cameron MacLaren.
