Sony Pictures pulls plug on Steve Jobs biopic

20 Nov 2014

Steve Jobs, the late co-founder and former CEO of Apple

The Steve Jobs Hollywood biopic appears to be in danger of not materialising after Sony Pictures withdrew from the project.

Variety source has said Universal is now likely to make a deal for the film but that is, as of yet, unconfirmed. Why Sony has opted out of the project is unknown.

The news comes on the back of actor Christian Bale’s decision to turn down the film’s leading role, despite screenwriter Aaron Sorkin’s assertions that the Dark Knight star was the best man for the job.

“We needed the best actor on the board in a certain age range and that’s Chris Bale,” Sorkin said last month. “We didn’t have to audition.”

Shame star Michael Fassbender had been touted as the producer’s new favoured choice to take the leading role.

Based on Walter Isaacson’s biography Steve Jobs, the project was set to be helmed by Slumdog Millionaire director Danny Boyle and star actor Seth Rogan as Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak.

The new movie is Hollywood’s second attempt at a big-screen depiction of the former Apple CEO and chairman following the poorly received film Jobs, which was released just last year. Ashton Kutcher starred in the title role with character actor Josh Gad playing Wozniak.

Steve Jobs image via Shutterstock

Dean Van Nguyen was a contributor to Silicon Republic

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