Al Pacino returns to HBO as legendary football coach in the new original film ‘Paterno’
MIAMI, Fla., March 22, 2018 – HBO Films’ PATERNO centers on Penn State University’s Joe Paterno in the aftermath of the Jerry Sandusky sexual abuse scandal. After becoming the “winningest” coach in college football history, Paterno’s legacy is challenged and he is forced to face questions of institutional failure in regard to the victims. The new original film premieres only on HBO,Saturday, April 7th at 23hrs*, simultaneously with the United States.
Academy Award® and Emmy® Award-winner, Al Pacino returns to HBO, starring as Paterno, or JoePa, as the students would call him. PATERNO marks Pacino’s third HBO collaboration with award-winning director Barry Levinson, having starred in YOU DON’T KNOW JACK, which earned Pacino a Golden Globe® and Emmy® Award. Pacino also starred in the title role in HBO’s PHIL SPECTOR, which Levinson executive produced. Levinson directed PATERNO from a script by Debora Cahn and John C. Richards.
The film also stars Riley Keough as Sara Ganim, the 23-year-old journalist who first reported on the Sandusky case for The Patriot-News, a daily newspaper serving the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania metropolitan area. Kathy Baker stars as Sue Paterno, Joe’s wife; Greg Grunberg and Larry Mitchell as Joe’s sons, Scott and Jay Paterno; and Annie Parisse as Mary Kay Paterno, Joe’s daughter.
Barry Levinson received a Best Director Oscar® for the multiple Academy Award®-winning RAIN MAN. He also executive produced and directed HBO Films’ THE WIZARD OF LIES and YOU DON’T KNOW JACK, and executive produced HBO Films’ PHIL SPECTOR, all of which earned him Emmy® nominations.
PATERNO, a Levinson/Fontana production of a Barry Levinson Film, is executive produced by Barry Levinson, Jason Sosnoff, Edward R. Pressman, Rick Nicita and Lindsay Sloane; Amy Herman produces. PATERNO is produced in association with Sony Pictures Television.
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