Pacino, De Palma to Collaborate on Paterno Movie
As Deadline reported back in September, Al Pacino will play Joe Paterno in a movie surrounding the former Penn State football coach. Now, Deadline is also reporting that the movie will be directed by Brian De Palma, a director who’s been in the business for over 40 years.
Happy Valley, the movie’s current working title, will mark the third occasion Pacino and De Palma have worked together on a film. It’s been decades since the two were on the same set — the tandem teamed up to create Carlito’s Way in 1993.
As some may recall, Pacino has a bit of experience acting in a football setting. In 1999, he starred in Any Given Sunday as a struggling veteran coach trying to make the playoffs with a backup quarterback.
Edward Pressman, the project’s producer, gave Deadline a brief statement when confirming the deal:
Happy Valley reunites the Scarface and Carlito’s Way team of De Palma & 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.
Like Joe Paterno, De Palma comes from an Italian background. It’ll be interesting to see how the movie weighs the first 85 years of Paterno’s life with the Sandusky scandal. Is 150 minutes enough time to properly display both?
Your ad blocker is on.
Please choose an option below.
Purchase a Subscription!
About the Author
‘A Great Historian & A Great Journalist’: The Mark Of Penn State Historian Lou Prato
“He knew so much and had devoted so much of his life to the history of Penn State Athletics.”
‘I’m Encouraged By The Way We Show Up Every Day’: Penn State Football Wide Receivers Making Early Strides In Spring Practice
Penn State receivers were held to zero catches in the College Football Playoff semifinal.
Penn State Names New Executive VP and Provost
Fotis Sotiropoulos has been named Penn State executive vice president and provost effective August 11, 2025.
