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The Ice Road

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Is 'Ice Road' Based on a True Story?

Stream It Or Skip It: 'The Ice Road' on Netflix, in Which Liam Neeson Plays a Trucker Hauling a Big Rig Over Treacherous Territory

Netflix’s ‘The Ice Road’ Isn’t the Best Liam Neeson Movie, But It Is Comfortingly Familiar

Three things in life are certain: death, taxes, and Liam Neeson‘s action movies. The star has a new flick out with Netflix called Ice Road. What is he battling this time? A frozen ocean. Neeson is going up against the elements, rather than evil strangers and abductors. But given he has a particular set of skills, but this movie isn’t about anyone being taken (other than “by the ice”), is Ice Road based on a true story?

Ice Road follows a down-on-his-luck ice road trucker who joins a mission across treacherous ice, blizzards, and other slippery slopes in order to deliver rescue equipment. The treacherous terrain proves to be a real struggle, but with folks like Benjamin Walker and Laurence Fishburne by his side, Neeson’s character will be able to conquer the frozen spirits of Canada.

Winter in Canada is certainly a real thing, but is Ice Road? Here’s everything you need to know about the true story behind Ice Road:

Is Ice Road based on a true story? Is Liam Neeson’s Mike a real ice driver?

The answer isn’t entirely yes, but it also isn’t entirely no. Liam Neeson’s character Mike isn’t real, and the film’s storyline is pure fiction. There is, however, a real ice road in Canada. But there has never been a mine collapse, and the ice is tested before the route is used to be sure the road is safe to travel.

Where is Ice Road set? Where was Ice Road filmed?

The Ice Road is set in Canada’s Northwest Territories. The road itself is around 250 miles long and is primarily built over frozen lakes. The road is officially known as the Tibbitt to Contwoyto Winter Road. The movie itself was filmed primarily in Winnipeg, Canada — very far from Canada’s Northwest Territories and the diamonds hub in the film.

Is Ice Road based on a book?

Nope. The movie is based on one road, although the story is purely fictional. If you want to read a book about the real ice road, check out Denison’s Ice Road, Edith Iglauer’s non-fiction recount of traversing the road itself.