Jay Baruchel Ramps Up Writing Career With Two Projects (Exclusive)

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Jay Baruchel

It seems like Jay Baruchel has been bitten by the writing bug.

After co-writing his recently wrapped comedy Goon, Baruchel has signed on to write the adaptation of Kickstart Comics’ Random Acts of Violence and is in final negotiations to rewrite Summit’s Exorcism Diaries.

Baruchel will work with his writing partner Jesse Chabot on both projects.

Random Acts is the blood-soaked story of two comic creators and their ultimate horror character Slasherman creation gone very wrong. The creators start to see success flowing like a river, but when that river turns bloody and people start dying in the midst of a signing tour, it becomes clear that their creation has taken a life of its own.

The comic was written Jimmy Palmiotti and Justin Gray, the writers of DC’s Jonah Hex, and was just released for download on Comixology, the comic world’s iTunes, last week.

Kickstart, run by Jason Netter, produces comics-based material and was involved in the Angelina Jolie-starrer Wanted and the Syfy series Painkiller Jane (created by Palmiotti). The company is developing adaptations of Preacher, The Boys and Monster Attack Network and is expanding its comic line with three new titles this week.

Summit’s Exorcism Diaries is based on the book The Real Story Behind The Exorcist by Mark Opsasnick and is being produced by Roy Lee, Sonny Mallhi and Doug Davison. Summit’s tale centers on a reporter searching for the truth behind the most famous exorcism in history, but soon discovers that the real-life story is not quite finished. As a result, she finds herself in harm’s way of the same supernatural entity that she is chasing.

The project was acquired by Summit as a pitch by Adam Simon and Tim Metcalfe.

Erik Feig, Michael Schaefer and Sophie Cassidy are overseeing the project for the studio.

Baruchel co-wrote Goon with frequent Seth Rogen collaborator Evan Goldberg. He also co-produced the movie and stars in it with Seann William Scott and Liev Schreiber.

Baruchel isn’t leaving the acting world behind. He recently joined the cast of David Cronenberg’s Cosmopolis and will reprise the voice of Hiccup in DreamWorks Animation’s sequel to the Oscar-nominated hit How To Train Your Dragon.

He is repped by CAA, Thruline and attorney Jamie Feldman.