Christian Bale Drops Out of Steve Jobs Biopic
November 3, 2014 | 11:20AM PT Justin Kroll

After early discussions to play the Apple founder, Christian Bale has decided to part ways with the Steve Jobs biopic at Sony.

While negotiations were never fully underway, sources tell Variety that Bale had talks with director Danny Boyle about taking on the role, but a deal never came to fruition. The news comes almost two weeks after the biopic’s screenwriter, Aaron Sorkin, told Bloomberg that Bale was a lock for the part of Jobs. ““We needed the best actor on the board in a certain age range and that’s Chris Bale,” he said. “It’s an extremely difficult part and he’s gonna crush it.”

Sony will now look to find its replacement after Bale and Leonardo DiCaprio both passed on the part. The studio is in discussions with Seth Rogen to play Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak.

Scott Rudin, Mark Gordon and Guymon Casady are producing.

Bale is currently in negotiations to play Travis McGee in Fox’s “The Deep Blue Goodbye” and can be seen next in Fox’s “Exodus: Gods and Kings.” He is repped by WME.

With Christian Bale parting ways on the project, Sony has moved quickly to find the man to portray the late Apple founder Steve Jobs.

Michael Fassbender is in early talks to play “Jobs” in the the Sony biopic that Danny Boyle is directing, sources confirm.

Based on Walter Isaacson’s biography “Steve Jobs,” the real-life drama is directed by Danny Boyle and written by Aaron Sorkin.

Seth Rogen is in talks to play Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak. Scott Rudin will produce along with Mark Gordon and Guymon Casady.

Sorkin has publicly said the movie will be divided into three long scenes, each taking place backstage before one of Apple’s famous product launches.

“The first one being the Mac,” he told the Daily Beast. “The second one being NeXT, after he had left Apple. And the third one being the iPod.”

“It’s a little like writing about the Beatles,” he added. “There are so many people out there that know him and revere him.”

Leonardo DiCaprio had been circling the role but eventually passed to take time off from acting. David Fincher had also been in talks at one point to direct.

Sony acquired rights following the Apple mogul’s death in 2011.

Fassbender is repped by CAA.

Sony Drops Out of Steve Jobs Movie from Aaron Sorkin
NOVEMBER 19, 2014 | 07:04PM PT Dave McNary

Sony Pictures has surprisingly ditched its Steve Jobs project, putting the high-profile feature into turnaround.

The studio had no comment on the story.

An informed source said that Universal was likely to make a deal for the biopic.

In recent weeks, producers had set Michael Fassbender to star as the late Apple mogul after Christian Bale dropped out. Seth Rogen is also in talks to play Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak.

Based on Walter Isaacson’s biography “Steve Jobs,” the real-life drama is directed by Oscar-winner Danny Boyle and adapted by Aaron Sorkin. Scott Rudin is producing “Jobs” alongside Mark Gordon and Guymon Casady.

It’s unclear why Sony decided to abandon the tech drama. The studio acquired rights to shortly after the mogul’s death in 2011.

Sorkin has publicly said the movie would be divided into three long scenes, each before one of Apple’s notorious product launches, and that Jobs’ daughter Lisa was the heroine of the film.

It’s not the first Steve Jobs movie Hollywood has produced since his death. Last year’s independently financed “Jobs” starred Ashton Kutcher as Jobs and Josh Gad as Wozniak earned a modest $36 million at the global box office.

Sorkin, Sony and Rudin last worked together on “Moneyball” after teaming on another technology drama: 2010′s “The Social Network” about Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. That movie grossed over $220 million worldwide.

The Sony-Jobs news was first reported by Deadline.com.

Steve Jobs Movie Picked Up by Universal
NOVEMBER 24, 2014 | 07:14PM PT Dave McNary

Universal Studios has picked up the Steve Jobs movie project, less than a week after Sony put the high-profile feature into turnaround.

Producers recently set Michael Fassbender to star as the late Apple mogul after Christian Bale dropped out. Seth Rogen is also in talks to play Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak.

Based on Walter Isaacson’s biography “Steve Jobs,” the real-life drama is directed by Oscar-winner Danny Boyle and adapted by Aaron Sorkin. Scott Rudin is producing “Jobs” alongside Mark Gordon and Guymon Casady.

Universal was widely expected to take over the project.

Sony decided to abandon the tech drama on Nov. 19. The studio, which acquired rights to Isaacson’s book shortly after the mogul’s death in 2011, has not explained why it pulled out.

Sorkin has publicly said the movie would be divided into three long scenes, each before one of Apple’s notorious product launches, and that Jobs’ daughter Lisa was the heroine of the film.

Last year’s independently financed “Jobs” starred Ashton Kutcher as Jobs and Josh Gad as Wozniak earned a modest $36 million at the global box office.

Sorkin, Sony and Rudin last worked together on “Moneyball” after teaming on another technology drama: 2010’s “The Social Network” about Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. That movie grossed over $220 million worldwide.

Natalie Portman In Early Talks to Join Steve Jobs Movie
12:35 PM PST 11/26/2014 by Erik Hayden, Tatiana Siegel

Natalie Portman is in early talks to be added to the cast of Universal's biopic of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.

The actress would co-star alongside Michael Fassbender, who is currently attached to star in the film. Portman and Fassbender nearly worked together on another troubled project — Jane Got a Gun — before director Lynne Ramsey and Fassbender exited the film.

Sony Pictures had been working on developing the project, written by Aaron Sorkin, before Universal picked up the feature.

The title role of Steve Jobs has seen multiple A-listers attached to the project before exiting, including Christian Bale and Leonardo DiCaprio. At one point, David Fincher had been attached to direct.

Jessica Chastain also had met with Boyle for the female lead.

Natalie Portman Passes on Steve Jobs Biopic
DECEMBER 8, 2014 | 03:37PM PT Justin Kroll

After beginning discussions to join “Jobs” before the Thanksgiving break, Natalie Portman has parted ways with the female lead in the Steve Jobs biopic.

“Jobs” currently stars Michael Fassbender as Jobs and Seth Rogen as Steven Wozniak with Danny Boyle directing. Aaron Sorkin penned the script with Scott Rudin, Mark Gordon and Guymon Casady producing.

The pic is based on the Walter Isaacson biography and was originally set up at Sony before Universal picked it up out of turnaround when Sony let it go.

Production is expected to start in the spring and while sources don’t have an exact reason why Portman passed, other than news probably breaking before the actress had made a decision on the film, sources say “Jobs” is still on track to make its production date and actresses are already meeting for the part.

Portman can be seen next in the Gavin O’Connor western “Jane Got a Gun” and is repped by CAA and Brillstein Entertainment.