As the country becomes emboldened by the power of the #MeToo movement, sexual assault survivors are speaking up everywhere from every industry. One of the sports industry’s most infamous cases of sexual abuse, HBO’s upcoming film, “Paterno” looks to explore the disgraced Penn State football coach’s role in and knowledge of the Jerry Sandusky scandal. Here’s the official synopsis:
HBO Films’ PATERNO centers on Penn State’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.
Getting Paterno to screen was a long and arduous process. Al Pacino became attached in 2012 and, in 2013, Brian De Palma was slated to direct, but HBO dropped the project because of budget issues. Once Academy Award winning director Barry Levinson was brought on in 2017, the project was able to get going, and make its way to the small screen. Levinson and HBO have a history of producing great work in the past with “The Wizard of Lies” last year and “Phil Spector” in 2013 (in which Al Pacino also starred).
Alongside Pacino, “Paterno” will also star Kathy Baker, Riley Keough, Greg Grunberg, and Annie Parisse. It was co-written by “West Wing” and “Grey’s Atatomy” writer Debora Cain and “Saraha” scribe John C. Richards.
“Paterno” debuts on April 7th.
 in the aftermath of the Jerry Sandusky sexual abuse scandal.){kind=link}