Christoph Waltz to direct first feature

Los Angeles: Austrian actor Christoph Waltz, whose career is red-hot since he won the best supporting actor Oscar as a Nazi officer in ‘Inglourious Basterds,’ will make his feature directing debut on the German-language movie `Auf und Davon` (`Up and Away`), based on a script he wrote.Waltz also might play a role in the Fox International Prods. project, which centers on the ruthless host of a dating show competition. She finds herself in over her head when the show`s romantic story line bumps into her own feelings for a contestant.

"This love story reflects Christoph`s formidable sense of humor," said Gabriela Bacher, who oversees Fox International Prods. in Germany and brought the project to the studio. The movie will be loosely based on Meike Winnemuth and Peter Praschl`s German-language novel "Auf und Davon." The film will not necessarily be seen outside of German-speaking countries. Fox executives first discussed it with Waltz shortly after "Inglourious Basterds" premiered at Cannes. Waltz, who has directed for German television, has been working on the script for some time. Waltz will be seen in the Fox 2000 movie "Water for Elephants" in the role of an animal trainer. He also has been cast in Columbia Pictures` "The Green Hornet," and is considering other roles, including one in the Kevin Costner-directed World War II drama "A Little War of Our Own." Bureau Report