Al Pacino is in talks to star as the controversial college American football coach Joe Paterno in a new film, reports CNN Entertainment. The former sports star retired amidst a sexual assault scandal.

Paterno, by Joe Posnanski, the bestselling autobiography of Joe Paterno’s life is currently being pitched to U.S studios, and Al Pacino has been heavily linked to fulfil the role of the much loved sports personality. Not himself accused of any wrongdoing, Paterno left his job at Pennsylvania State University after his former defensive co-ordinator Jerry Sandusky was accused of child abuse. Sandusky was later convicted. The movie about the rise and downfall of one of the most respected figures in recent US sporting history has no director, and no screenplay has been delivered, but with the pedigree of Pacino reportedly involved, it’s a story most production companies would love to be involved in telling.

Pacino, most famous for his roles in The Godfather trilogy as Mike Corleone and Tony Montana in Scarface, has developed a different side to his acting style in recent years. His comedy, Stand Up Guys is set to hit American cinemas in January 2013, and the Shakespeare adaptation, King Lear is set to come later that year. He is also set to star in the World War II drama, Leningrad, which depicts the struggles of Russian forces during the German invasion.