Jason Segel to star in movie about infamous Canadian maple syrup heist

Who doesn’t enjoy a good crime caper?

You know the formula: An unlikely team, a daring plan, a brazen heist, and, of course, maple syrup... Wait, what?

According to Deadline, “Horrible Bosses” director Seth Gordon is teaming with “How I Met Your Mother” star Jason Segel for a comedic crime movie based on the “Only in Canada” heist of nearly $20-million worth of maple syrup last year. The film, which is being touted as a “comedy with dramatic overtones,” will be written by “Family Guy” writer Chris Sheridan. Do we smell roles for Canadian funny men (and Segel pals) Seth Rogen and Jay Baruchel?

Known as the "Great Maple Syrup Caper," the real-life Quebec heist saw thieves make off with more than 16,000 45-gallon barrels of the sweet, sticky syrup over a two year period. If you’re wondering why anyone would steal maple syrup, you obviously aren’t in the commodities business. The going rate for the syrup is about $40 per gallon -- or almost $2,000 per barrel. That’s more expensive than crude oil! Multiply that number by 16,000 (hint: it’s over $30 million) and you can understand why someone would want to pilfer the breakfast condiment. Quebec authorities and the RCMP have since arrested dozens of people in connection with the heist.

Who said Hollywood doesn’t know a good idea when they see it? It is, however, slightly surprising that the Canadian film industry didn’t jump at the opportunity to make a movie about this homegrown crime. The project practically has "Goon" director Michael Dowse's name on it, and it surely would have cleaned up at the Canadian Screen Awards!

The heist movie is latest famous Canadian tale to make the leap to the big screen south of the border. Best Picture winner “Argo,” directed by Ben Affleck, was based on an operation called “The Canadian Caper,” a joint Canada-US mission to covertly rescue six American diplomats from revolution-era Iran.

Just don't expect the "Great Maple Syrup Caper" anywhere near the Oscars.