ChristophWaltz is to make his directorial debut with true crime drama Worst Marriage in Georgetown. The film, based on Franklin Foer’s New York Times Magazine article, tells the true story of Albrect Muth (played by Waltz), an eccentric social climber who seduced and married a wealthy older widow, Viola Drath. Voltage Pictures has come aboard to fully finance and produce and will be introducing to buyers at Cannes.

The husband and wife threw lavish events attended by the most influential politicians from around the globe as Muth falsified his background and became a Washington, D.C. luminary. However, the house of cards he built comes crashing down when Drath was found murdered. and Muth’s integrity, ethics and public persona were put on trial.

Production is scheduled to commence October 12, 2015. The film will be produced by Waltz, Erica Steinberg (Inglorious Basterds) and Nicolas Chartier. Zev Foreman and Jonathan Deckter will be exec producing for Voltage, alongside M. Janet Hill, who originally optioned the material. The script was written by Pulitzer Prize winner David Auburn (Proof).

“Voltage has a long history of supporting incredibly talented artists’ directorial debuts and I am incredibly excited to help Christoph realize his vision for this great piece of material,” said Nicolas Chartier.

Voltage is expanding, having recently bolstered its executive ranks by bringing in Jonathan Deckter as President & COO and John Fremes as President of International Sales and Distribution. ICM Partners will co-represent US rights with Voltage.

The deal was negotiated by Dominic Rustam on behalf of Voltage with ICM Partners and David Weber of Sloane, Offer, Weber and Dern, LLP on behalf of Waltz and the production.