'Did you know about Jerry?': Al Pacino dons tinted glasses in portrayal of late Penn State coach Joe Paterno in HBO movie
It remains one of the most chilling scandals of modern times.
A new trailer for Paterno shows glimpses of the upcoming HBO film, which centers around the once-beloved Penn State head coach Joe Paterno and his free fall from grace amid his purported knowledge - and non-action - of Jerry Sandusky, who was sentenced to 30-60 years imprisonment after being found guilty of the sexual abuse of underage boys in 2012.
'Dad, did you know about Jerry?' a voice is heard quizzing Pacino, who's made up to look like the coach, who died of lung cancer at 85 in January of 2012, just two months after he was unceremoniously dumped by the university.
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A second look: Al Pacino plays late football coach Joe Paterno in a new trailer for the upcoming HBO film Paterno, dealing with the once-beloved Penn State head coach's swift fall from grace
The trailer for the movie features a montage of harrowing scenes, including ravenous football fans cheering the team on, Paterno waving at students who supported him amid the scandal, and a shot of an elevator door closing on Sandusky with his arm around a young boy.
The film's director, Academy Award winner Barry Levinson, told Penn Live that the movie explores the juxtaposition between Paterno's once golden reputation to the idea he was the chief enabler to a serial sex predator.
'Joe Paterno was known as an honorable man, an educator, a humanitarian,' the filmmaker told the outlet. 'So trying to make sense out of what happened is, for me, the most fascinating aspect of the story. What did he understand? What did he not understand?'
Levinson said that the film is only focused on the two weeks amid scandal's genesis in November of 2011, and leaves it to the viewers to draw their own conclusions on Paterno, who was nicknamed JoePa.
Marred: Pacino said that the question swirling around Paterno 'isn't just what he knew, it's what he did about' the years of sex crimes committed by his assistant Jerry Sandusky
Fervent: Fans of Penn State's Nittany Lions show their school spirit in the teaser clip
'The film lays out the elements of the story and leaves you to make your own judgment,' he said. 'There are times when you may feel one way, and times when you may feel a totally different way, and I think that's what makes the piece so compelling.'
Pacino said that the question swirling around Paterno 'isn't just what he knew, it's what he did about it.
Recreating history: Pacino is seen as Paterno in a scene in which he emerged from his home at a rally of students showing support in November of 2011
The Hollywood legend said he believes Paterno 'knew there were complaints' and 'rumors' about his assistant, who remains in custody in SCI-Somerset in Somerset, Pennsylvania.
'I don't think [Paterno] was very fond of Sandusky, for whatever reasons,' he said. 'I think there were other reasons.'
Paterno 'did act upon' the rumblings he had heard and 'did say he thought someone should look into this,' Pacino noted.
'But a guy like Paterno, he's like an emperor, he's like a king. He didn't take up with it because it was out of his control, and I think this is a character who's used to control.'
The film is slated to air on HBO later this year.
Eerie: Steve Coulter playing convicted child molester Jerry Sandusky smiles in this outtake from the film
Downfall: The real Paterno, seen in this 2006 shot, died about two months after his firing from the university
Locked up: Sandusky, seen in this 2012 shot, was convicted for sex crimes involving 10 boys. He was subsequently sentenced to 30-60 years in prison
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