HMG – After a bravura performance with Brad Pitt in ‘Inglorious Basterds,’ which brought praise from both the audience and the Oscar voters, Cristoph Walz is now scheduled to direct his first film.

The 54-year ancient Austrian, who played Colonel Hans Landa in the Oscar-nominated Tarantino creation is now a hot property in the film world and Fox International have just offered him the chance to direct his first film – from his own script. And he may even take a small role.

Entitled ‘Auf Und Davon’ it means ‘Up and Away,’ the movie concerns the remorseless host of a German dating show who gets herself into distress when she develops strong feelings for one of the contestants.

“The tale reflects Christoph’s formidable sense of humor,” Gabriela Bacher, head of Fox’s German division, told THR.

But while the Fox people warn us the new movie might not get played outside German-speaking countries, they were so keen to get Cristoph under contract they offered him the job at ‘Basterds’ premiere in Cannes in May of last year.

“While Christoph’s rise to stardom will continue,” says Sanford Panitch, president of Fox International Prods., “we are very proud to collaborate with him on his own project.”

The only problem with all this is time – When you win the Oscar everyone wants you, and Cristoph has at least three films to deal with before he can start – He just wrapped ‘Green Hornet’ with Seth Rogen and Cameron Diaz, next will be ‘Water for Elephants’ with Robert Pattinson, then comes Kevin Costner’s ‘A Small War of their Own’ – but that one’s not confirmed.

With so much demand, Fox doubts the 54-year ancient Austrian – who is the only actor to have ever won an Oscar for a Tarantino production – will get to start work on “Auf Und Davon” before the middle of next year…