Gerard Depardieu will star as DSK in a new film about the New York sex scandal

US director Abel Ferrara announced that French legend Gerard Depardieu is to star as Dominique Strauss-Kahn in a film about the sex scandal that caused the former IMF chief to resign.

Abel Ferrara told Le Monde newspaper he would be making the film, with Isabelle Adjani playing Dominique Strauss-Kahn’s wife, Anne Sinclair.

Dominique Strauss-Kahn left the International Monetary Fund in May last year after being charged with raping a New York hotel maid.

The case was dropped but ended his ambitions for the French presidency.

Before the scandal, DSK, a former French finance minister, was thought to have had aspirations to run as a Socialist contender for the post.

French writer Tristane Banon later accused DSK of trying to sexually assault her during an interview in 2003, claims he denied. No action was taken because of a three-year statute of limitations but Tristane Banon has indicated she may still file a civil suit.

Abel Ferrara told Le Monde the film would be shot in New York, Paris and Washington.

“In all the places of power: It’s a film about the rich and powerful,” said the director.

The project has long been rumored, but Abel Ferrara confirmed he would be going ahead with it in June, despite the doubts of his producers Wildbunch.

“I am the director. No one is going to stop me talking about my film,” said Abel Ferrara.

Abel Ferrara met Gerard Depardieu, 63, at the Deauville film festival in September and said the French star was everything a director could wish for in an actor.

Abel Ferrara is best known for hard-hitting films dealing with the dark and seedy side of life, such as Bad Lieutenant, starring Harvey Keitel as a corrupt New York policeman with a drug and gambling addiction.