Al Pacino Cast In New Biopic About Shamed Penn State Coach Joe Paterno
The Penn State scandal may be only a few months old, but that isn’t stopping Hollywood from telling its story on the big screen. But who will be the man chosen to play legendary football coach Joe Paterno? None other than legendary actor Al Pacino.
NBC News is reporting that Pacino is offically attached to play Paterno in a biopic tentatively titled HAPPY VALLEY. The film will be directed by SCARFACE director Brian De Palma.
This is the third time Pacino and De Palma have teamed up on a film (the second being 1993’s CARLITO’S WAY). It would also continue Pacino’s recent streak of playing real life characters including Phil Spector and Jack Kevorkian.
HAPPY VALLEY is still in developmental stages, and a script has yet to be completed.
Paterno was relieved of his coaching duties at Penn State last year (his 62nd year on the coaching staff) amid the scandal surrounding assistant coach Jerry Sandusky and his alleged abuse of 10 boys over the span of 15 years.