Ford v Ferrari screenwriter Jason Keller and his writing partner Bryan Johnson have been tapped to write the script for Speed Girl, an upcoming film set to star Hilary Swank.
Based on a true story, Swank will play Janet Guthrie, a pilot turned racecar driver who smashed barriers to become the first woman to qualify for the Indianapolis 500 and Daytona 500.
Set in the 1970s when the fight for women’s rights was gaining speed, in 1976 Guthrie made a bid for the Indianapolis 500 despite relentless opposition from the racing establishment and the men she hoped to race against. Janet qualified for the race in 1978 where she finished in the top ten, destroying many widely-held stereotypes about female drivers.
The film will “bring Guthrie’s passion and persistence vividly to life, immersing viewers in the untold story of the woman who came to Indy just hoping to qualify and left a trailblazer, inspiring generations of future female racers.”
Swank will also serve as executive producer on the film, which is based on Stephan Talty‘s book of the same name. Keller, who will also executive produce, previously wrote Sylvester Stallone film Escape Plan and alternative Snow White pic Mirror Mirror.
This will be Swank’s first on screen role since 2020, when she featured in thrillers The Hunt and Fatale, and had a brief run as the star of Netflix sci-fi drama Away, which was cancelled after one season.
#Peace.Love.SpeedGirl
