The Playlist is reporting that Al Pacino will be playing recently deceased Penn State football coach, Joe Paterno, in a film directed by Scarface collaborator, Brian De Palma. Happy Valley will be a much different film than Pacino’s last turn as a sports figure in Any Given Sunday. Paterno’s legacy was destroyed after former assistant coach, Jerry Sandusky, sexually abused young boys in his care. Paterno helped conceal evidence and avoided reporting Sandusky. The film is adapted from the best seller Paterno and will be scripted by Dave McKenna (American History X). De Palma is sure to create a fascinating character study, and we’re happy to see Pacino in a role that doesn’t involve gangsters or mafia thugs (this character may be more terrifying, anyway).
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