(Photo by Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)
It’s been announced today that Al Pacino will play Joe Paterno in an upcoming HBO movie about the sexual abuse scandal at Penn State. This is timely news, as just last week three ex-Penn State administrators received jail time for not reporting that Jerry Sandusky was molesting children.
Barry Levinson will direct the film, which is music to this blogger’s ears. Levinson boasts one seriously impressive resume, with classics such as Diner, The Natural, Good Morning, Vietnam, Rain Man, and Wag the Dog under his belt.
Here’s The Hollywood Reporter with more details on the upcoming film.
Pacino will play Joe Paterno, the winningest coach in college football history who becomes embroiled in the sexual abuse scandal surrounding his longtime assistant coach, Jerry Sandusky. The scandal challenges his legacy and forces him to face questions of institutional failure on behalf of the victims.
Debora Cahn (Grey’s Anatomy, The West Wing), John C. Richards (Sahara, Nurse Betty) and David McKenna (S.W.A.T., American History X) will pen the script. Levinson will exec produce with his producing partners at Levinson/Fontana, Tom Fontana and Jason Sosnoff, in addition to Ed Pressman, Rick Nicita and Lindsay Sloane. HBO will produce the film in association with Sony Pictures Television.
I am all in on this one, as I absolutely cannot wait to see those corrupt sons of bitches get the evisceration they deserve. Forget Tony Montana, Michael Corleone, and Satan himself, playing Joe Paterno will be the most evil character Pacino has portrayed yet.
