Al Pacino is taking the lead role in an adaptation of Joe Posnanski’s biography Paterno, Deadline reports. The recent bestseller details the life of the former Penn State head coach, Joe Paterno, including the sexual abuse scandal that broke last year. The book itself is officially described as follows:
Joe Posnanski’s biography of the late Penn State football coach Joe Paterno follows in the tradition of works by Richard Ben Cramer on Joe DiMaggio and David Maraniss on Vince Lombardi. Having gained unprecedented access to Paterno, as well as the coach’s personal notes and files, Posnanski spent the last two years of Paterno’s life covering the coach, on (and off) the field and through the scandal that ended Paterno’s legendary career.
Joe Posnanski, who in 2012 was named the Best Sportswriter in America by the National Sportswriters and Sportscasters Hall of Fame, was with Paterno and his family as a horrific national scandal unfolded and Paterno was fired. Within three months, Paterno died of lung cancer, a tragic end to a life that was epic, influential, and operatic.
Paterno is the fullest description we will ever have of the man’s character and career. In this honest and surprising portrait, Joe Posnanski brings new insight and understanding to one of the most controversial figures in America.
Pacino previously played a football coach in Oliver Stone’s Any Given Sunday. He recently appeared on the big screen as a fictionalized version of himself in Jack and Jill.
The project, to be produced by Rick Nicita, is currently looking for buyers.
