HBO Unveils First Look At Al Pacino As Joe Paterno In Penn State Sexual Abuse Scandal Movie [PHOTO]

Al Pacino’s first photo as legendary Penn State football coach Joe Paterno has just been released online.

In the photo, the award-winning actor wears a light blue shirt and a dark blue jacket, which he complemented with yellow-colored sunglasses. According to Variety, Barry Levinson’s yet-to-be-titled HBO project will center on Paterno, one of the most famous coaches in college football’s history. He becomes involved in his assistant coach Jerry Sandusky’s sexual abuse scandal, which leads to his credibility and legacy being questioned and criticized.

Read: Al Pacino cast as lead in HBO’s Penn State sexual abuse scandal movie

Levinson’s upcoming film will also star Riley Keough as Sara Ganim, the 23-year-old reporter who first brought to light Sandusky’s sexual abuse story. She eventually won a Pulitzer Prize for her work. Joe Paterno’s daughter, Mary Kay Paterno, will be played by Annie Parisse.

Meanwhile, Levinson will serve as both director and executive producer of the upcoming project. Other executive producers he will be working with include Jason Sosnoff, Tom Fontana, Edward Pressman and Rick Nicita. The untitled movie was written by Debora Cahn, John C. Richards and David McKenna.

Pacino’s HBO film was first announced in 2013. At the time, Brian De Palma was supposed to direct the film based on Joe Posananki’s book, “Paterno.” However, production was suspended by the network due to budget constraints, according to TV Line.

This is not the “Heat” actor’s first time teaming up with HBO. The actor was previously tied to the cable network for the biopic, “You Don’t Know Jack.” In addition, he played the lead role in “Phil Spector.” Pacino also appeared in “Angels in America.” Pacino and Levinson worked together in “You Don’t Know Jack” and “Phil Spector.” The duo’s first project, “The Humbling,” was released in 2014, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

As of late, the official release date for Pacino’s upcoming movie has not yet been announced by HBO. But there are speculations that it will air sometime next year.

Pacino’s other film credits include “The Godfather,” “Serpico,” “Dog Day Afternoon,” “Scent of a Woman,” “Scarfare” and more.