Overview
- Michael Dowse’s biographical film had its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival with Jay Baruchel starring as stuntman Ken Carter.
- The movie dramatizes Carter’s attempted mile-long rocket-car jump over the St. Lawrence River and frames that stunt as part of a Canada–U.S. rivalry that informed some on-set improvisation during last year’s trade dispute.
- Dowse spent years securing rights to Bob Fortier’s 1981 NFB documentary, used Fortier as a consultant, and incorporated newly recovered hypnosis audio that inspired the film’s opening.
- Production relied heavily on archival stunt footage rather than staging new jumps, and the team built a replica rocket car from archival images because no original schematics existed.
- Distributors plan a near-simultaneous U.S. and Canadian release later this month and coverage notes a disputed detail over who plays Evel Knievel, with Variety naming Ben Foster and The Canadian Press reporting Dan Bakkedahl.