He is widely regarded as one of the greatest actors of all time. Throughout his career, he has taken on a wide range of roles, leaving an indelible mark on each through his distinctive performances. Now, film and theatre legend Al Pacino is set to visit Greece in the coming months to shoot his latest film, while casting is under way for Greek actors who will have the opportunity to appear alongside him.

The film, titled 50/50, will be shot 90% in Greece, with production scheduled to begin in April 2027.

The story centres on a young Greek-American skateboarder who dreams of competing in the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. His ambition begins to take shape after he meets a highly decorated former skateboarding champion, played by Al Pacino, who takes him on a journey of sporting ambition, self-discovery and personal healing.

The encounter that proves pivotal to the young man’s life takes place after he returns to Greece from the United States following his parents’ separation. As a result, much of the story unfolds on Greek soil.

Executive production has been taken on by Gold Tree, the company of Greek-American businessman Efthymios Tsonakas, who is planning a major investment in Greece across several sectors, including cinema, the international promotion of Greek products, television and the development of innovative land-sustainability technologies.

The new film starring Al Pacino has already secured funding from the Hellenic Film and Audiovisual Centre (EKKOMED). Among Tsonakas’s ambitious plans is also the creation of five state-of-the-art film studio complexes in Greece, which would employ Greek professionals from a range of disciplines across the audiovisual industry.

Al Pacino and Tsonakas have worked together before. 50/50 will not mark their first collaboration: they previously joined forces on the biographical drama Modì, Three Days on the Wing of Madness, directed by Johnny Depp, as well as the highly anticipated Lear Rex, directed by Bernard Rose and based on Shakespeare’s King Lear. The Oscar-winning actor had wanted to take on the role of King Lear for many years.

It is worth noting that this will be the first time the acclaimed actor has filmed a movie in Greece. He has visited the country before, travelling incognito for holidays, including trips to Paros and Skopelos.