A Rocket Car, a Mad Canadian, and a Mile‑Wide Dream
The first look photo from The Stunt Driver is here, and it’s as gloriously absurd as the true story it’s based on. Jay Baruchel, suited up in a red‑and‑yellow jumpsuit, leans against a rocket‑powered car emblazoned with “Ken Carter.” Beside him, Ed Helms—playing Dick Keller, the engineer tasked with making this death‑wish vehicle function—stands in a yellow jacket and shades, the picture of reluctant reason.
Behind them, the car’s rear fin and gas cylinders scream danger. It’s not just a prop; it’s a promise of chaos. This is the world of Ken Carter, the “Mad Canadian” who, in the 1970s, set out to jump the Saint Lawrence River in a rocket car.
The Cast: Comedy Meets Gravitas
- Jay Baruchel as Ken Carter, the daredevil chasing immortality.
- Ed Helms as Dick Keller, the engineer trying to keep physics from killing everyone.
- Ben Foster as Evel Knievel, Carter’s rival and mirror image.
- Laurence Leboeuf as Gloria, Carter’s girlfriend.
- Dan Bakkedahl as Carter’s manager.
Supporting roles include Joe Cobden and Marc Beaupré. It’s a mix of comic timing and dramatic heft, a balance Dowse has pulled off before in Goon.
Production Notes and AFM Buzz
On November 4, 2026, Protagonist Pictures boarded the project ahead of the American Film Market, handling international sales and unveiling this first look. The film is in post‑production, with Michael Dowse (Stuber, Goon) writing and directing.
Protagonist CEO Dave Bishop calls it “a laugh‑through‑the‑tears journey,” while Dowse himself describes Carter as “an inspiring, beautifully flawed, hilarious underdog. There’s a piece of Carter in all of us.”
Financing comes via Telefilm Canada and SODEC, with Jennifer Wilson producing under Film Cardinal. Baruchel also serves as executive producer.
Why Ken Carter’s Story Still Resonates
Carter’s dream was simple: end his career with a stunt so audacious it would make him a legend. Jumping a mile‑wide river in a rocket car is both comic and tragic—comic because it’s patently impossible, tragic because Carter believed in it with every fiber of his being.
That tension—between impossible dreams and inevitable failure—is what makes The Stunt Driver more than a stunt movie. It’s a character study of obsession, ego, and the absurd lengths we go to be remembered.
5 Things We Learned from The Stunt Driver First Look
The Rocket Car Is Real
The photo shows a fully built vehicle, not CGI filler.
Baruchel Leans Into Carter’s Madness
His jumpsuit, posture, and grin capture the daredevil’s reckless charm.
Helms Plays the Straight Man
As Keller, he’s the voice of reason in a circus of chaos.
Foster as Evel Knievel Is Inspired Casting
He brings gravitas and rivalry, grounding the spectacle.
Dowse Balances Comedy and Heart
Like Goon, this is about flawed men chasing impossible dreams.
FAQ
What makes The Stunt Driver different from other stuntman films?
It’s not just about spectacle—it’s about obsession, failure, and the absurdity of chasing immortality through impossible feats.
How accurate is the film to Ken Carter’s real story?
The broad strokes are true: Carter really did attempt to jump the Saint Lawrence in a rocket car. The comedy comes from the futility of the dream.
When was the first look revealed?
The photo was unveiled on November 4, 2026, during the American Film Market, as Protagonist Pictures boarded the project.
Why cast Ben Foster as Evel Knievel?
Foster’s intensity and uncanny resemblance give the role weight, making Knievel both rival and mirror to Carter’s madness.
The Stunt Driver isn’t just about a man and his rocket car—it’s about the human need to matter, even if it means risking everything on a stunt no sane person would attempt.
Anyway. Where were we? Oh right—standing beside a rocket car, wondering if dreams are worth the crash.
