Hilary Swank to Play Racing Legend Janet Guthrie in "Speed Girl"

Two-time Oscar-winner Hilary Swank is set to star and produce an adaptation of Stephan Talty’s book "Speed Girl".

She 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.

The movie is set in the 1970s when the battle for women’s rights was gaining speed. 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. She was qualified for the race in 1978 and finished in the top ten, destroying many widely-held stereotypes about female drivers.

Swank and her husband Philip Schneider will exec produce along with Balcony 9’s Joel David Moore and Rishi Bajaj.

“This is an incredible true story about female empowerment and going after your dreams. 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.” she said in a statement.

The actress was last seen in Netflix's space drama series "Away" and Deon Taylor’s thriller movie "Fatale".