DiCaprio Set to Dramatize Volkswagen Emissions Scandal

Leonardo DiCaprio may produce a movie based on the ongoing Volkswagen emissions scandal, according to a recent report.

According to an article in Variety, DiCaprio’s company Appian Way Productions has signed on to produce a film based on Jack Ewing’s soon-to-be-published book on the Volkswagen emissions scandal.

Reportedly, the rights to Ewing’s book sold in the six-figure range. At present, no actors or writers have been signed to the project.

VW Emissions Scandal

According to allegations, Volkswagen deliberately designed the emissions control system of their vehicles to deliberately cheat emission testing.

The vehicles involved in the Volkswagen emission scandal could allegedly detect when emission tests began and went into a special low-emissions mode to cheat the test.

This was initially found by an independent tester who focused on emissions.  Engineer John German tested Volkswagen emissions as work for a non-profit.

The emission tests were originally designed to compare various nitrogen oxides and dioxides between European and American cars. However, German found that the readings from Volkswagen emissions were wildly higher.

In a recent interview German states “they thought there was something wrong with their equipment” when Volkswagen emissions tested at five to thirty five times the legal limit for emission testing.

Due to the gravity of the claims, German was reluctant to make the accusation. Though the engineers quickly suspected a “defeat device,” or a component designed to trick emission testing equipment yet to make such an accusation and be wrong could be a serious misstep.

However, as the data piled up, German was sufficiently convinced by 2014 to send a report and his data to the EPA, with a cc to Volkswagen. Initially, Volkswagen claimed it was a software error with their cars but when the problems persisted into 2015, Volkswagen eventually admitted that they had created a defeat device.

Corporate Scandals Captured On Film

The real life events of the Volkswagen emission scandal has many elements that could lend themselves to a soild Hollywood film. In general, the public distrusts large corporations and Hollywood has tapped into this.

Films as diverse as Alien and Erin Brockovich feature faceless “evil” corporations as the antagonist. Couple this with several potential underdogs, independent engineers like German or internal whistleblowers, and the right production team could spin this into a powerful story.

In fact, the background of the VW emission scandal has a few of these traits in common with a previous hit. His production company, Appian Way, was also behind the 2013 film The Wolf of Wall Street which ultimately starred DiCaprio and other A-listers with Martin Scorsese at the helm as director.

The film is regarded as a critical and commercial success, and was nominated for five Academy Awards. As such, DiCaprio has demonstrated that a film centering on alleged corporate misconduct can translate into a hit film.

UPDATE: On June 28, 2016, Volkswagen reached proposed settlements with both the U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission following the VW emissions scandal. VW’s deal with the DOJ includes up to $14.7 billion along with vehicle buyback provisions as well as funding for pollution control programs. In addition to the DOJ settlement, Volkswagen will also spend up to $10 billion in a buyback and lease termination settlement with the FTC that is expected to include about 475,000 vehicles.

UPDATE 2: The Volkswagen, Audi diesel emissions class action settlement is now open! Click here to file a claim!