Al Pacino is set to star as Joe Paterno in an HBO movie about the Penn State sexual abuse scandal.
The film, from director Barry Levinson, follows Paterno as he’s embroiled in the sexual abuse allegations against Penn State’s Jerry Sandusky, challenging his legacy and forcing him to face questions of institutional failure on behalf of the victims.
The project re-teams Pacino with the “Wizards of Lies” director, with whom he previously collaborated on the 2014 film “The Humbling.”
The untitled film will be directed and executive produced by Levinson. Jason Sosnoff and Tom Fontana will also serve as executive producers for Levinson/Fontana, alongside Ed Pressman of An Edward Pressman Production, Rick Nicita of RP Media Company and Lindsay Sloane.
Written by Debora Cahn, John C. Richards and David McKenna, the film is being produced in association with Sony Pictures Television.
Pacino is represented by UTA.