Al Pacino to play former Penn State coach Joe Paterno in new HBO movie

By Christine Persaud Published June 6, 2017

Al Pacino is set to emulate yet another controversial figure. The veteran actor will be playing Joe Paterno, the former Penn State University football coach who became mired in the Jerry Sandusky sexual abuse scandal, in an upcoming HBO movie, Variety reports.

Paterno was a well-regarded college football coach. However, in 2011, it came to light that his assistant coach, Sandusky, was being accused of sexually abusing several underage children, a crime for which he was later convicted. According to a 2012 report, Paterno and other officials from the school were aware of the actions but did not act on them.

Recommended Videos

“After becoming the winningest coach in college football history,” reads the official logline for the TV movie, “Joe Paterno is embroiled in Penn State’s Sandusky sexual abuse scandal, challenging his legacy and forcing him to face questions of institutional failure on behalf of the victims.”

The film, which has not yet been named, marks the latest in a string of TV movies Pacino has done for HBO where he played real-life controversial figures. In 2010, he played the euthanasia advocate known as Dr. Death, Jack Kevorkian, in You Don’t Know Jack, and in 2013, he portrayed Phil Spector in the TV movie of the same name about the music mogul’s murder trial. In 2014, Pacino also worked with HBO on The Humbling, a comedy/drama about a stage actor who is slowly losing his mind.

But fear not, Pacino fans — it seems the actor will also be combining his ability to take on real-life personas with his mob boss acting roots in another upcoming project. In addition to this TV movie, along with several other projects in the works, Pacino has been tapped to play Jimmy Hoffa in the upcoming Martin Scorsese film The Irishman, for which Netflix has gained the rights. Also starring in that flick will be Robert De Niro, Bobby Cannavale, Joe Pesci, and Harvey Keitel.

The Paterno film will be directed and executive produced by Barry Levinson, while Jason Sosnoff, Tom Fontana, Edward Pressman, Lindsay Sloane, and Rick Nicita will also serve as executive producers. It’s being written by Debora Cahn, John C. Richards, and David McKenna, and Sony Pictures Television will produce the film.

Christine Persaud

Contributor

Christine has decades of experience in trade and consumer journalism. While she started her career writing exclusively about…

Topics

Entertainment

3 underrated (HBO) Max movies you should watch this weekend (April 4-6)

A man and woman look up and stare.

If you're interested in the legal dispute between Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni, In Dispute: Lively v Baldoni is now streaming on Max. The documentary has quickly become the most popular movie on the service. Elsewhere, new releases like Queer and Heretic are finding an even bigger audience on streaming than during their theatrical run.
Moving past the homepage, you'll find a great selection of underrated movies. One of these films is a critically panned superhero adventure. However, it has regained popularity due to the tragic death of its lead. You can view that movie and two more below.
We also have guides to the best movies on Netflix, the best movies on Hulu, the best movies on Amazon Prime Video, the best movies on Max, and the best movies on Disney+.
Drinking Buddies (2013)

Filmmaker Joe Swanberg is a prominent figure in the mumblecore movement. Mumblecore films are typically low-budget and emphasize dialogue and improvisation over the plot. Drinking Buddies is an aptly named entry into the mumblecore genre. Who talks more than people who drink beer?
Kate (Olivia Wilde) and Luke (Jake Johnson) are friends who work at a Chicago brewery. You would assume the co-workers are dating because of their natural chemistry and comedic interactions. However, Kate and Luke are both in relationships. When they invite their significant others to hang out with them, things get a little awkward, as Kate and Jake contemplate their feelings for each other. It's a low-stakes, charming relationship drama that pairs perfectly with a beer.
Stream Drinking Buddies on Max.
Batman Forever (1995)

Entertainment

3 underrated (HBO) Max movies you should watch this weekend (December 6-8)

A group of men sit at a table in Conspiracy.

Have you defied gravity yet? If not, you're one of the few who haven't. Wicked is a genuine phenomenon right now, and one of the leading contenders for next year's Oscars. But I haven't taken a trip to Oz yet simply because there's too much good stuff on streaming right now.

That's especially true for Max, which has great films from the present to the distant past. (Yes, they even have 1939's The Wizard of Oz.) If you have a craving for movies that don't contain evil witches, pink-colored princesses, or flying monkeys, well, this list is for you. These movies may have Nazis, porn stars, and real-life artists, but they are all united by their ability to entertain and even enlighten.

Entertainment

What’s up with the Game of Thrones movie and Euphoria season 3? HBO’s boss spills some details

Jon Snow and Daenerys stand in the snow on the left as Zendaya stares on the right.

Two of HBO's biggest properties, Game of Thrones and Euphoria, are making headlines for both positive and negative reasons. HBO and Max Content CEO Casey Bloys finally addressed reports about a Game of Thrones movie and Euphoria season 3 during a press event on Tuesday.

Let's start with news of the Game of Thrones movie in early development at Warner Bros. Bloys confirmed that studio heads Michael DeLuca and Pamela Abdy are teaming with author George R.R. Martin for a feature film set in the Game of Thrones universe.