Al Pacino Playing Joe Paterno In The HBO Movie On The Penn State Scandal

(Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM)

(Photo by Mike Ehrmann/WireImage)

HOLLYWOOD REPORTER – The Jerry Sandusky sex scandal that took down Penn State’s illustrious college football program is getting the HBO movie treatment.

Al Pacino is set to star in the project, with Barry Levinson attached to direct and exec produce, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

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.

Al Pacino.  HBO.   Barry Levinson.   Penn State.  Check, check, check, check, appointment television.

Granted we’re a long ways away from the Godfather, Scarface, Heat, Serpico, Carlito’s Way, Scent of a Woman, Donnie Brasco, Any Given Sunday Pacino.  Been a whole lot of Danny Collins, Manglehorn, 88 Minutes Pacino lately.  But I still have high hopes.  Kings stay king.

And if they cover the scumbag Sandusky Truthers then maybe we’ll see a special guest star…