It looks like Leonardo DiCaprio is getting his wish. The 40-year-old actor will produce Paramount’s upcoming movie about the Volkswagen clean diesel fiasco.
DiCaprio’s production company and Paramount have acquired the rights to a book proposal by New York Times journalist Jack Ewing. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the book will focus on how a “‘more, better, faster’ ethos fueled one of the greatest frauds in corporate history.”
It will detail how the company placed illegal software in their clean diesel cars that could tell when a vehicle was being tested for fuel emissions. This would help them pass the test with flying colors, but once the car hit the road, emissions rates were up to 40 times higher.
As a result, the company is facing up to $18 billion in fines from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the scandal forced the resignation of damaged CEO Martin Winterkorn.
According to multiple sources, Ewing’s book landed a mid-six figures book deal earlier this year. Once this thing becomes a huge hit at the box office as well, Mr. Ewing will be rolling in the money.
We’ll keep you posted on this project.