Oscar-nominated producerLeonardo DiCapriohas tappedPatrick MelrosehelmerEdward Bergerto direct a film about Volkswagen’s Clean Diesel scandal for Paramount and Appian Way, Collider has exclusively learned.
Emmy-nominated director Berger closed his deal last year, so his attachment is old news in industry circles, but hey, it’s new to the internet! PerForbes, Oscar winnerCharles Randolph(The Big Short) is writing the script, so this is shaping up to quite the prestige project for Paramount, though cameras are still a long ways from rolling.
DiCaprio andJennifer Davissonare producing via their Appian Way banner, which teamed with Paramount to acquireJack Ewing’s bookFaster Higher Farther: The Inside Story of the Volkswagen Scandalback when it was just a four-page proposal that had sold to publisher Norton in a six-figure deal.Faster, Higher, Farthermay end up as the title of the film as well.
The scandal had widespread repercussions, including the resignation of Volkswagen Group CEOMartin Winterkorn, who allegedly knew that the company had placed illegal software known as “defeat devices” in their Clean Diesel cars. These devices could reportedly tell when a car was being tested for fuel emissions, and would turn on the emissions controls to cheat the test and meet EPA standards. The resulting fallout sent VW’s stock plunging, with the ultimate cost to the company now estimated to be around $30 billion in repairs, customer reimbursement and fines.
DiCaprio is a longtime environmental activist, so naturally, the story spoke to him and he set out to find the movie in there. As a proud Volkswagen leasee for the last decade-plus, I personally hope this project comes to fruition, as I sure am curious about the details of who knew what and when. Ironically, it was recently reported that Volkswagen beat its 2018 forecasts despite the so-called ‘Dieselgate’ scandal, which was previously examined in the documentaryBackfired: When VW Lied to America.
Berger’s directing career has renewed momentum following Showtime’s five-part miniseriesPatrick MelrosestarringBenedict Cumberbatch, who he’s slated to re-team with on the indie movieRio(akaLet It Come Down) co-starringJake Gyllenhaal.Call Me By Your NamehelmerLuca Guadagninowas previously attached to direct that film for Studiocanal. Berger also directed Sundance TV’sDeutschland 83and multiple episodes of AMC’sThe Terror, while his feature credits include the acclaimed 2014 dramaJack, as well as this year’sAll My Loving.
Berger is represented by ICM Partners, Anonymous Content and Casarotto Ramsay & Associates.
