I was invited by Dreamworks Studios this week to watch never-before-seen footage from three of their upcoming animated releases for 2010… one of them was ‘How To Train Your Dragon’ starring Jay Baruchel. After the screenings, Dreamworks took us to a restaurant at the Time Warner Center in Manhattan to discuss the films. One of the publicists at the event asked me if I could chat with Jay to get to know him better. I said sure.
Jay Baruchel: The “IT Guy” Myth
Baruchel approached me with a trucker hat, a heavy beard, and a tattoo of his mother’s name on his right forearm. He had four films coming out as a lead in 2010: She’s Out of My League, How To Train Your Dragon, The Trotsky, and The Sorcerer’s Apprentice. I asked how happy he was to be in the middle of a major comeback. He answered disappointingly that it didn’t mean anything – it was just a coincidence of release dates. (He was cursing up a storm.)
He continued, saying that he’s been through the notion of the “IT guy” before and nothing has happened. “For example, when I was in Million Dollar Baby, everybody said watch out for this guy, he’s gonna be someone. Then when I was in Knocked Up, people said I was in a sleeper hit, gonna need to watch that kid. Same for Tropic Thunder. So I say, I don’t believe in being the IT guy nor am I interested.”
Exclusive: The Quitting Rumor
He then went on to share with me EXCLUSIVELY, at the time, that he was even considering leaving the industry altogether. “You know, I think I’m gonna quit acting. I don’t wake up with that feeling of love for acting, for this business. I really just do it to pay my mom’s bills and take care of her.”
Update March 2026
Despite the frustrations he shared in that Manhattan restaurant, Jay Baruchel did NOT leave town. He’s been as busy as ever, specifically starring in FUBAR Season 2 (Netflix) opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger. He’s still the real deal, most recently appearing in the 2025 film Mile End Kicks and the series Super Team Canada. He’s even moved behind the camera with a first-look production deal in 2026. Jay may have been disappointed in the “IT guy” label back then, but he’s clearly found that love for the craft again.
