First announced last September, Al Pacino is set to headline a biopic of former Penn State head coach Joe Paterno. Deadline now reports that the project, to be titled Happy Valley, will reunite the star with his Scarface director Brian De Palma.
The film version is said to be based on Joe Posnanskis recent biography, “Paterno,” officially described as follows:
Joe Posnanskis 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 coachs personal notes and files, Posnanski spent the last two years of Paternos life covering the coach, on (and off) the field and through the scandal that ended Paternos 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 mans 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.
De Palma most recently directed Passion, starring Rachel McAdams and Noomi Rapace.
(Photo Credit: WENN.com)
