Scarface’s star Al Pacino and director Brian De Palma are reteaming to bring the story of the late Penn State coach Joe Paterno to the big screen. David McKenna (American History X) will pen Happy Valley, the tentative title of the film, which is based on Paterno’s biography written by Joe Posnanski. The story will hinge on Paterno’s fall from grace during the 2012 underage sex scandal that plagued the last days of the football coach’s career. The project marks Pacino and De Palma’s first collaboration since Carlito’s Way. [Deadline]

2012 was arguably Matthew McConaughey’s biggest year since making his big break in 1996’s A Time to Kill, and now the actor is following up on his Magic Mike success.

Mud is a new dramatic thriller from director Jeff Nichols (Take Shelter). McConaughey plays the title character, a con on the run for murder whose troubles rope in two young kids. On Wednesday, Yahoo! Movies unveiled the film’s first official trailer and you need to watch it right now!

Stars like Jessica Chastain, Jennifer Lawrence and Bradley Cooper have one more stop to make before walking Oscar’s red carpet, and that’s the Screen Actors Guild Awards. In addition to having some of the biggest names in both film and television gather to be awarded by their peers, the SAG Awards go all out to secure their much-earned “very big deal” status. This year’s telecast, broadcast live from the Shrine Exposition Center in Los Angeles, is no exception. Check it:

• 15,872 square feet of red carpet will be laid out at the arrivals area for talent.
• three-row six-foot high bleachers will be set up to accommodate 300 (screaming) fans.
• 600 feet of silver aluminum pipe connecting two monumental 16-foot high gates will be installed on the main stage, to create an impressive sunburst design.
• The physical awards – The Actor statuettes – were recently cast in bronze and will be given to winners in both the film and television categories.
• Each statuette weighs 12 pounds and stands 16 inches tall.
• Guests will be served from a menu that includes salmon, beef tenderloin and much more.

The 19th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards will broadcast live on Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013, at 8pm EST, simultaneously on TNT and TBS.

We can rest easy now: Sofia Coppola’s new film, The Bling Ring, has finally found a distributor. Production company A24 will distribute the film, which follows a group of teenage thieves who rip off celebrity homes. Bling is currently set for a June 2013 release. [Deadline]

Michael Fassbender is going from professional sex addict to time-traveling assassin for Assassin’s Creed, the film adaptation of the hit video game – which on Wednesday finally locked down a writer. Playwright Michael Lesslie will pen the adaptation, which centers on an average joe (Fassbender) who is kidnapped by government operatives and exposed to an experiment that unlocks his past lives spent as an assassin. Yep, that’s happening. [The Hollywood Reporter]

Didn’t get a chance to see Beasts of the Southern Wild during its original theatrical run? No worries, Fox Searchlight is re-releasing the Oscar-nominated film on January 18 in select theaters. Beasts, which came out early last summer, is nominated for Best Picture, Director and Actress. [Deadline]

Will you check out Beasts of the Southern Wild this weekend? Let Celebuzz know by posting in the comments section. 

Al Pacino might have another football movie to add to his long Hollywood resume.

Deadline reports that the 72-year-old Any Given Sunday actor is in talks to play the late Penn State football coach Joe Paterno in a new film.

The project will be based on Joe Posnanski’s biography, Paterno, which debuted at No. 1 on the New York Times bestseller list in August.

Pacino’s possible attachment to the new film comes nearly one year after news broke of the Penn State child sex abuse scandal.

Paterno, commonly referred to as “JoePa” by members of the Penn State football community, died in January, shortly after news of the sex scandal involving his former defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky rocked the sports world.

In June, Sandusky was found guilty on 45 of 48 charges. The 68-year-old, who was convicted of sexually assaulting 10 boys, is currently awaiting his sentence.

Pacino is no stranger to playing real-life figures on the big screen.

His most recent roles have included Phil Spector in an untitled TV biopic, Dr. Jack Kevorkian  in the TV film You Don’t Know Jack, and American attorney Roy Cohn in the HBO miniseries Angels in America.

Pacino also appears in the upcoming biopic Gotti: In The Shadow of My Father as Aniello Dellacroce, an Italian-American gangster and Gambino crime family underboss. The film also stars John Travolta and Kelly Preston.

What do you think of Al Pacino playing Joe Paterno onscreen? Is it too soon to make a film about the Penn State scandal? Share your thoughts below.

The 2011 Screen Actors Guild Awards will be kicking off in Los Angeles shortly, and Celebuzz will have all the coverage that you need on this year’s ceremony.

Check back for up-to-the-minute red-carpet photos, highlights from the ceremony, and of course, instant coverage of this year’s winners, as they’re announced!

Outstanding Male Actor in a Drama Series: Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire

Outstanding Female Actor in a Drama Series: Julianna Margulies, The Good Wife

Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series: Boardwalk Empire

Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role: Melissa Leo, The Fighter

Outstanding Male Actor in a Comedy Series: Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock

Outstanding Female Actor in a Comedy Series: Betty White, Hot in Cleveland

Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series: Modern Family

Life Achievement Award: Ernest Borgnine

Outstanding Male Actor in a TV Movie or Miniseries: Al Pacino, You Don’t Know Jack

Outstanding Female Actor in a TV Movie or Miniseries: Claire Danes, Temple Grandin

Outstanding Male Actor in a Supporting Role: Christian Bale, The Fighter

Outstanding Male Actor in a Leading Role: Colin Firth, The King’s Speech

Outstanding Female Actor in a Leading Role: Natalie Portman, Black Swan

Cast in a Motion Picture: The King’s Speech

Here’s a weird one for you: goofball Tracy Morgan is in final negotiations to star in an ensemble cop drama with Juliette Binoche, Katie Holmes and Al Pacino. Morgan will be filling the role that Terrance Howard vacated in the film, titled Son of No One.

Morgan is best known for his random and hilarious comedy shtick on 30 Rock and Saturday Night Live, so it seems weird that the comedian would take a dip into dramatic acting. Maybe 30 Rock co-star Alec Baldwin has been giving Tracy some acting tips?

We definitely never imagined that Tracy would become a dramatic actor, but a lot of comedians have gone on to have decent careers as dramatic actors. Maybe Tracy Morgan will join those other comedians as a successful, well-respected actor?