Latest in Joe Paterno

Today at HBO’s TCA panel for its upcoming spring movie Paterno, The Patriot News reporter-turned CNN correspondent Sara Ganim was asked what it felt like writing the ultimate #MeToo story back in 2011 about the Jerry Sandusky sexual abuse scandal at Penn State, and not having the media fanfare to accompany in the way…

Here’s a first-look picture of Al Pacino as Joe Paterno, the fallen Penn State football coach who’s the focus of HBO Films’ upcoming Barry Levinson-directed drama. The untitled project is currently in production. (See below for a side-by-side comparison.) “The film centers on Joe Paterno, who, after becoming the…

Kathy Baker (The Ranch) and Heroes alum Greg Grunberg have been cast in lead roles opposite Al Pacino in HBO Films' untitled movie about the Penn State sexual abuse scandal, directed and executive produced by Barry Levinson. Written by Debora Cahn, John C. Richards and David McKenna, the film centers on legendary…

Almost two years after HBO hit pause on its film about the Penn State football scandal starring Al Pacino, the project is moving forward with a green light and a new director. Barry Levinson is set to direct and executive produce the movie, reuniting with Pacino and HBO. Originally, HBO Films had the Scarface duo of…

EXCLUSIVE: Music Box Films has acquired U.S. rights to Happy Valley, the A&E IndieFilms-funded documentary about the aftermath of the conviction of former Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky for molesting young boys — some of which was perpetrated in the locker room where Sandusky brought the kids after…

It’s been 20 months since Deadline broke the story of the Scarface duo of director Brian De Palma and Al Pacino’s re-teaming for Happy Valley. The film chronicles the fall of Penn State head football coach Joe Paterno, whose legend was undone by revelations he and others in the football program were aware that former…

EXCLUSIVE: Al Pacino has returned to ICM Partners, rejoining the agency almost exactly a year after he left to join CAA. Pacino’s exit came right after the agency restructured and longtime head Jeff Berg left to start the agency Resolution. Berg had been part of the team that repped Pacino, along with John Burnham and…

Today‘s Matt Lauer this morning interviewed filmmaker John Ziegler, who has spent a year poring through evidence in the Penn State pedophile scandal to make a documentary he hopes will clear the name of the late legendary head coach Joe Paterno. Now, Paterno’s only alleged transgression was not being aggressive when a…

NBC’s Today show on Monday plans to show excerpts from interviews with former Penn State University assistant football coach and convicted child molester Jerry Sandusky. “The former longtime defensive coordinator will describe what he says happened on the campus, and what he thinks of whistleblower Mike McQueary and…

EXCLUSIVE: The Scarface team of director Brian De Palma and Al Pacino are re-teaming for Happy Valley, the working title of a film that will tell the story of Penn State head football coach Joe Paterno. Paterno’s legend was undone by revelations he and others in the football program were aware that former defensive…

UPDATE: Rarely have I gotten so many emails on a story that has struck a nerve among former students of Penn State. Some claiming to have clout in Hollywood say they will try to squash this project, and others are critical of me and defensive of the beloved Paterno, claiming he got a raw deal. I can’t imagine these…