An Offer We Can’t Refuse: Jordan Peele and Al Pacino team for The Hunt

Al Pacino is in talks to join the Jordan Peele produced Amazon series The Hunt. this would be Pacino’s first time acting on episodic television. We’ve got the details.

It would appear that Oscar winner Jordan Peele (Get Out) has made Al Pacino (The Godfather) an offer that he can’t refuse. Yes, I went there. Per a report from Deadline, Peele’s Monkeypaw Productions and Sonar Entertainment are producing a Nazi hunter show called The Hunt. The show, created by David Weil (Moonfall), will take place in New York circa 1977.

Showrunner duties will be handled Weil and Nikki Toscano (Detroit 1-8-7). They will also serve as co-executive producers. Alfonso Gomez-Rejon (American Horror Story) is also in talks to direct all ten episodes of the series.

Pacino is expected to sign his deal to join the production soon. He would play the mentor of a diverse group of people who hunt are called “The Hunters.” They have discovered that high ranking Nazi officials are living in New York and are planning a take over and new world order.

So far the only other cast member to join The Hunt is Logan Lerman (Fury). His character’s grandmother is killed by a mysterious intruder. As he seeks vengeance, he meets the Hunters and receives training from Pacino’s mentor character.

Limitless Possibilities

This is Al Pacino. To say he has range is like saying the Grand Canyon is kind of big. His specialty has always been the anti-hero. He’s the star and protagonist, but his characters often face a crossroads where they have to decide if they’re willing to snuff out their souls.

Jordan Peele-Al Pacino-Courtesy of Aude Guerrucci-Pool/Getty Images

In The Godfather, Michael Corleone allows events surrounding his family to reshape him into one of the most feared Dons ever. In Serpico, Frank Serpico keeps on the straight and narrow path even when he gets shot in the face. One of my favorite flawed Pacino characters from the last 20 years is his turn as Will Dormer in Insomnia.

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Pacino’s Dormer has completely snuffed out his own soul. He frames a child killer who was likely to be acquitted on lack of evidence. Then he accidentally shoots his partner to death apprehending a different suspect. But it’s unclear how accidental it really was. As he knowingly mentors young detective Ellie Burr (Hilary Swank) throughout the case, Dormer is aware that she may catch him. Like a tell tale heart, Dormer’s insomnia is a sign that he is having issues living with the guilt of his actions.

That’s the kind of complexity I’m hoping for in The Hunt. We get to see Pacino shape a performance over ten episodes. I’m expecting the type of character who may have played a role in allowing these Nazi’s to infiltrate free society and wreak havoc. Whether it’s an unwitting role or battle he waged and lost, this should be fascinating to watch. The dynamic of having to fight horrifying acts with horrifying acts should also prove to be interesting. How will this manifest itself in Pacino’s character when he mentors? I can’t wait to check this one out.

It’s clear that Jordan Peele is really hot and people are jumping at the chance to participate in his projects. While it would be great if Peele wrote or directed an episode or two, I’m happy that he’s at least involved as a producer on The Hunt. He’s a positive force in genre films.

Are you excited that Al Pacino will be coming to television? Is Jordan Peele basically taking over genre films and television at this point? Let’s discuss in the comments!