Al Pacino, Brian De Palma Reunite in Joe Paterno Biopic
Al Pacino is set to star as Penn State's disgraced football coach, Joe Paterno, in a Brian De Palma-directed biopic entitled "Happy Valley."
Al Pacino, one of Hollywood's legendary favorites, will play another challenging role as the controversial coach, Joe Paterno. Paterno was a famous college football coach, and was named the second most "winningest" coach after leading his team into many streaks of victory.
Paterno was disgraced, and was dropped to the 12th spot of NCAA's "winningest" coach list when a sex scandal involving his assistant, Jerry Sandusky broke out. The trial and investigation wiped out all Penn State wins which Paterno coached from 1998 to 2011.
"Happy Valley" will be Pacino and Brian De Palma's third time working together, and the third time the two will work after what seems to be a ritualistic 10-year break. De Palma directed Al Pacino's most popular films, "Scarface" in 1983 and ten years after, "Carlito's Way" in 1993.
"'Happy Valley' reunites the 'Scarface' and 'Carlito's Way' team of De Palma and Pacino for the third time and I can't think of a better duo to tell this story of a complex, intensely righteous man who was brought down by his own tragic flaw," said producer, Edward Pressman in a report.
Even celebrities are raving about Pacino's move to play Paterno. Larry King expressed his enthusiasm on the future of the said project by posting in his Twitter account.
"My friend Al Pacino was the perfect choice to play Joe Paterno. Can't miss!" wrote King in his account.
"Happy Valley" is based on the best-selling biography, "Paterno" by Joe Posnanski.
In 2011, Paterno's decorated coaching career experienced a backlash when he was tried for child abuse, with his past coaching assistant, Jerry Sandusky. After an investigation led by FBI director, Louis Freeh, details about Paterno's illicit sexual doings with young boys were revealed in July 2012.
Paterno, due to complications caused by lung cancer, died on Jan. 22, 2012.
Details of the production, shoot, and release of the film will be announced soon.