Adapted from Charles Willeford’s (Miami Blues) novel and scripted by Scott B. Smith (A Simple Plan), The Burnt Orange Heresy takes place in Italy in 1970, with THR providing the following plot summary:
“The project follows the story of irresistibly charismatic art critic James Figueras (yet to be cast), who hooks up with provocative and alluring fellow American Berenice Hollis (Debicki). He’s a classic anti-hero in the making with a charm that masks his deep ambition, while she’s an innocent touring Europe, enjoying the freedom of being whomever she wishes. The new lovers travel to the lavish and opulent Lake Como estate of Cassidy, an art-collecting lawyer. Their host reveals that she is the patron of Jerome Debney (Walken), the reclusive J.D. Salinger of the art world, and she has a simple request — for James to steal a new Debney masterpiece from the artist’s studio, whatever the cost.