LOS ANGELES: Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio and Paramount have acquired the rights to a book proposal by Jack Ewing about the Volkswagen scandal.

Ewing, in his book, will investigate how a “more, better, faster” ethos fuelled one of the greatest frauds in corporate history, said the Hollywood Reporter.

The German car company had programmed their diesel cars so that US standards emissions were met only when the car was undergoing emissions testing. On the road, emissions rates were up to 40 times higher. The scandal led to the resignation of CEO Martin Winterkorn.

Ewing inked a mid-six figures book deal with Norton earlier in October. DiCaprio and Jennifer Davisson Killoran will produce via Appian Way.