Sony Picks Up Steve Jobs Biopic
Despite persistent rumours about his failing health, the death of Steve Jobs clearly shocked a lot of people last week. The Apple and Pixar co-founder was one of those people who actually lived up to the word “visionary” and truly succeeded in changing the world around us. With all the media coverage surrounding his passing, you had to assume that Hollywood would be looking for a way to capitalize on it immediately. As it turns out, it took Sony just two days to make their move. Deadline reports that they are currently in negotiations to acquire the movie rights to Steve Jobs, an upcoming biography by Time Magazine managing editor Walter Isaacson that will be turned into a biopic for the big screen. The book has not been published yet but is set to hit stores on October 24th.
Steve Jobs’ life was featured on screen once before in the made-for-TV movie Pirates Of Silicon Valley, which focused more on the rivalry between Microsoft and Apple. Anthony Michael Hall played Bill Gates while Noah Wyle starred as Jobs. The new biopic will likely be a bit more serious in tone, and considering that Sony is the same studio responsible for The Social Network and Moneyball, it could actually end up being something more than just a cash grab.
There are already whispers that Aaron Sorkin might write the screenplay, and although there is no solid evidence to support that, he did have a friendship of sorts with Steve Jobs. He recently revealed that Jobs would often call him up to chat, and that Jobs had also wanted him to write a Pixar movie. What do you think, are you a fan of Steve Jobs and are you interested in seeing a Jobs biopic on the big screen?
On a related note, Discovery will air the Steve Jobs documentary iGenius: How Steve Jobs Changed The World this Sunday at 8 pm.