Al Pacino has signed on as the star in the thriller "88 Minutes" in which he plays a college professor who moonlights as a forensic psychiatrist for the FBI, according to the Hollywood Reporter (HR).

The professor must use his sleuthing skills to save his hide after he's told that he'll be killed in 88 minutes, the HR added.

The movie will be directed by Jon Avnet ("Fried Green Tomatoes") and will start filming in October.