Independent Film Company has acquired The Stunt Driver, a comedy starring Jay Baruchel as Canadian daredevil Ken Carter, ahead of its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival. The deal secures US theatrical distribution for the film, which is set for release on 25 September, and reunites Baruchel with writer-director Michael Dowse following their earlier collaboration on the hockey comedy Goon.

The film dramatises the true story of stunt driver Ken Carter's attempt, in the mid-1970s, to jump a mile across the St Lawrence River in a rocket car, despite personal struggles and public scepticism. The cast also includes Ben Foster as fellow daredevil Evel Knievel, alongside Laurence Leboeuf, Dan Bakkedahl and Ed Helms. Independent Film Company's Ayo Kepher Maat negotiated the acquisition with talent agency UTA on behalf of the filmmakers, with the project produced by Jennifer Wilson and Dowse for Film Cardinal.