Hilary Swank is putting the pedal to the metal and bringing Janet Guthrie’s story to the big screen. The two-time Oscar-winning actress is set to topline and produce “Speed Girl,” the story of how Guthrie raced her way into history books when the 39-year-old aerospace engineer became the first woman to qualify for the Indianapolis 500. Deadline broke the news.
Based on Stephan Talty’s book of the same name and set “in the 1970s when the fight for women’s rights was gaining speed,” “Speed Girl” recalls how “Guthrie made a bid for the Indianapolis 500 in 1976 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 source details. “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.”
The project hails from Balcony 9 Productions.
“This is an incredible true story about female empowerment and going after your dreams” said Swank. “When I was approached with Janet Guthrie’s story by the great team at Balcony 9, I immediately said yes. I can’t wait to bring her inspiring life to the screen.”
“Qualified,” a 2019 doc directed by Jenna Rickers, explored Guthrie’s rise to the top and the sexism and skepticism she encountered along the way. Asked what drew her to the story, Rickers told us, “Janet’s tenacity. She got on with pursuing her passion while everyone else was still gasping, ‘But she’s a woman!’ The more I learned about her — giving up a career in aeronautical engineering, building her own engines, going broke, the 24/7 effort to secure sponsorship, getting the right equipment, and pulling a team together — the more I felt a kind of kinship,” she observed. “I’m not risking my life racing at 200 miles per hour, and I’m not clever enough to be an aeronautical engineer, but so many of her obstacles and triumphs echoed aspects I’ve experienced as a female filmmaker.”
Swank won Oscars for her leading performances in “Million Dollar Baby” and “Boys Don’t Cry.” “Away” and “The Hunt” are among her most recent credits.
