Al Pacino has been a household name since the 1970s. It is almost wild to think that after all these years, Pacino still manages to steal the show every time he is on screen. While most people might consider retirement at his age, the legendary actor delivered something of a renaissance in the last five years. Whether it was him hunting down Nazis in Amazon’s Hunters or chewing it up as Aldo Gucci, the man is showing no signs of slowing down. Now, he is about to star in Billy Knight, the debut film from writer-director Alec Griffen Roth, which is already being called a ‘love letter to cinema.’

The film has been in the works since 2022, and now, the makers of this indie project have finally come forward to share some updates about where things stand.

Josh Clayton, co-founder of Firebrand Media, recently shared some exciting updates about Billy Knight in an exclusive with Essentially Sports, alongside director Alec Griffen Roth. Shedding light on the production stage, Clayton stated that they are “putting the finishing touches” on the project. While production on Pacino’s film kicked off back in 2022, it also paved the way for two other interesting projects— a documentary about Cam Ward, titled Zero Star, and a psychological thriller called Desert Road, which is going to hit the big screens this April.

According to a report from The Hollywood Reporter, Billy Knight follows the story of two grad students, Alex and Emily, who are on their way to becoming filmmakers. After Millie Bobby Brown, another Stranger Things star is making headlines with Pacino— Charlie Heaton, alongside Diana Silvers. Apart from sharing the update, in the interview, Alec Griffen Roth also shared his incredible experience working with the cast of Billy Knight, including Charlie Heaton, and Diana Silvers. But he saved the best for last when he spoke about Al Pacino.

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Roth explained how working with Pacino did not just impact him professionally, but changed him on a personal level as well.

Alec Griffen Roth always imagined Billy Knight as a film that would speak to people from all walks of life, across different generations. But at the same time, he wanted to make sure it spoke to the “modern cinematic viewer” too. And when it came to finding the right actor for the role, he knew Al Pacino was the perfect choice. With his “young-spirited” energy, Pacino was exactly what the film needed. Roth could not stop talking about Pacino’s enthusiasm, saying that even at 83, the guy was a bundle of energy.

Pacino would wake up at 4 am and still be asking for more takes if he was not happy with how things were going. Roth found a mentor in Pacino, much like the young man in Billy Knight, who is searching for someone to guide him. “He changed my professional life and changed me as a human being as well,” said the up-and-coming filmmaker, clearly in awe of Pacino’s impact. Now, all we can do is sit tight and wait for a release schedule update before Pacino does what he does best—steal hearts on screen once again.

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