Michael Dowse’s ‘The Stunt Driver’ Chronicles the Audacious Rise of Daredevil Ken Carter

A Retrospective on Canadian Stunt Legend Ken Carter

Director Michael Dowse’s latest feature, *The Stunt Driver*, premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, bringing the life of 1970s daredevil Ken Carter to the screen. Starring Jay Baruchel, the film recounts Carter’s ambitious attempt to jump his rocket car across the St. Lawrence River. The screenplay draws heavily from Bob Fortier’s 1981 documentary, *The Devil at Your Heels*.

Behind the Production

To capture the authenticity of the era, the production team reconstructed Carter’s custom rocket car from archival footage, as original schematics were unavailable. Dowse emphasizes that the film blends historical events with dramatic elements, including a rivalry with Evel Knievel. The production utilized real-world locations and audio archives to recreate Carter’s unconventional life. Readers can find further details via the official Variety coverage at: https://variety.com/2026/film/global/jay-baruchel-michael-dowse-stunt-driver-toronto-premiere-1236856974/.