88 Minutes for Al Pacino

Emmett/Furla Films, in conjunction with Avi Lerner’s Millennium Films have signed Jon Avnet(Fried Green Tomatoes) to direct the thriller 88 Minutes starring Al Pacino(Scent Of A Woman).

88 Minutes tells the tale of a college professor, played by Pacino, who pulls down a second job — as forensic psychiatrist for the FBI. The professor must use all his skills and training to save his hide after he’s told that he’ll be killed in 88 minutes. The list of possible suspects who might want to knock him off includes a former lover, a serial killer already on death row, and a disgruntled student.

The project was originally put together by Pacino and Glengarry Glen Ross director James Foley, but never happened.

Gary Thompson wrote the script and will produce the film with Avi Lerner, Randall Emmett, George Furla, Jon Avnet, and John Thompson.

Emmett and Furla stated, “We are thrilled to have Jon on board. We believe that Jon and Al will make a fantastic one-two creative punch that will make `88 Minutes’ a superb high-concept thriller.”

Executive Producers on the picture will be: Danny Dimbort, Boaz Davidson, Trevor Short, Lawrence Bender and John Baldecchi.

The drama is set for an October 15th start in Vancouver.

Pacino can be seen later this year in 2 For the Money opposite Matthew McConaughey and Rene Russo. Jon Avnet has directed and produced over fifty films. He is currently in post-production on Bob Edward’s “LAND OF THE BLIND” starring Ralph Fiennes and Donald Sutherland.