Al Pacino to star as Joe Paterno in HBO movie

[Captain Stud Muffin (BLM)]

Al Pacino is reportedly in line to star as former Penn State coach Joe Paterno, whose story is being made into a movie for HBO, according to a report

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Barry Levinson will be the executive producer and director for a movie about Penn State's legendary football coach who fell from grace when he became embroiled in the Jerry Sandusky sexual abuse scandal.

The film does not yet have a title, according to the trade publication.

www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/19552019/al-pacino-set-star-former-penn-state-nittany-lions-coach-joe-paterno-hbo-movie

Will they try to "humanize" Paterno and give up too much sympathy while making Sandusky the ultimate villian or will they "tell it straight." It will be interesting to see how this plays out 

["Magic" Mark Hurr]

Well there. This can go left really quick.

[BorneAgain]

A shame Joe Pesci's retired, he could really pull off Paterno.

[The 1Watcher Experience]

"HOOAH!"

[Schizo]

Joe Paterno: "SAY HELLO TO MY LITTLE FRIEND!"

[OGBoardPoster2005]

There is no right way to portray it. No matter what both sides will bitch. I'd rather just see a non-villainous and non-sympathetic portrayal. Just keep it down the middle.

[Deleted]

Jun 5, 2017 19:06:24 GMT -5 OGBoardPoster2005 said:

There is no right way to portray it. No matter what both sides will bitch. I'd rather just see a non-villainous and non-sympathetic portrayal. Just keep it down the middle.

Like it is doable but there's a reason why movies like these are more about the investigation than the guy himself.

[Shy Guy]

sounds like perfect casting

[Push R Truth]

I could see them going the "good at heart guy that lets football take over his life and he's naive to what gets swept under the rug in the name of money. When he finds out it basically breaks him and he falls ill"

Kinda hits both sides of the story without committing fully to either... and it will probably suck. It won't be Al's fault if it sucks though. I could see him hitting it out of the park on the portrayal.

I also foresee this film never seeing the light of day because of lawsuits from both Penn State if there is anything negative, the victims if that is downplayed too much... and possibly even the NCAA if they are morphed into the "evil empire that tried to knock Local God Joe down".

[MC Blowfish]

Well this should be interesting. Hopefully they don't portray him too sympathetically.

[The Captain]

HBO tends to be pretty straightforward with their biopics. They probably won't go out of their way to demonize him, but I doubt they'll be sympathetic either.

[unc40]

I understand why they would want to make it but I think they should just leave this alone.