Jay Baruchel Takes the Wheel as Daredevil Ken Carter in Awesome Trailer for THE STUNT DRIVER
IFC has released the official U.S. trailer for The Stunt Driver, and it looks like a wild ride inspired by one of the craziest true stories to come out of Canada.
The biopic stars Jay Baruchel as legendary stunt driver Ken Carter, the fearless showman who set out to launch a rocket-powered car across the St. Lawrence River in 1979. It was an outrageous dream that most people thought had no chance of succeeding, which only made Carter want to pull it off even more.
The film comes from Michael Dowse, the Canadian filmmaker behind Fubar, Fubar: Balls to the Wall, Goon, What If, Stuber, 8-Bit Christmas, and several other fan-favorite projects. This latest movie brings him back to Canada to tell the unbelievable story of the man known as "The Mad Canadian."
Set during the mid-1970s, The Stunt Driver follows Carter as he struggles with personal challenges while trying to convince everyone around him that his impossible stunt can actually become a reality.
His goal is simple in theory but absolutely insane in execution: launch a rocket car across a mile-wide stretch of the St. Lawrence River from Canada into the United States.
The trailer leans into the humor, the larger-than-life personalities, and the sheer insanity of the stunt itself. It looks like one of those true stories that almost feels too ridiculous to believe, which is exactly what makes it so much fun.
Joining Baruchel is Ben Foster as Carter's American rival Evel Knievel, along with Ed Helms as Dick Keller. The cast also includes Laurence Leboeuf, Dan Bakkedahl, Joe Cobden, and Marc Beaupré.
One especially cool detail is that the production filmed at the actual St. Lawrence River jump location between Boucherville and Varennes, adding an extra layer of authenticity to the story.
The movie is based on the real-life exploits of Ken Carter and also draws inspiration from the acclaimed 1981 documentary The Devil at Your Heels, which chronicled his life and legendary stunt attempt. Carter also served as the inspiration for the Toy Story 4 character Duke Caboom.
The Stunt Driver will make its world premiere as a Special Presentation at the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival before opening in theaters across Canada and the United States on September 25, 2026, through Mongrel Media and IFC.
This looks like a funny, heartfelt, and wonderfully over-the-top underdog story about a guy chasing an impossible dream because someone had to be crazy enough to try it.