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Briefly: Aaron Sorkin reportedly finishes script for Steve Jobs biopic

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Academy Award-winning screenwriter Aaron Sorkin has turned in a script for a full-length feature film adaptation of Walter Isaacson's biography of Apple cofounder Steve Jobs.

Tacked on to a report discussing the renewal and final season of Sorkin's HBO drama series "The Newsroom," Variety confirmed that the "Social Network" scribe has handed in a script for the as-yet-untitled Jobs project.

Details regarding the script are scant, though Sorkin has stated in the past that his Jobs biopic would be more akin to a painting than a photograph. In a 2012 interview at AllThingsD's D10 conference, Sorkin likened the challenge to writing a screenplay about the Beatles.

"I'm probably going to instead identify the point of friction that appeals to me and write about that," Sorkin said, adding that Jobs was "an extremely complicated guy, that I know for sure."

Word that Sony was looking to make the film first came in October 2011, just weeks after Jobs lost his fight with pancreatic cancer. In 2012, Sorkin officially signed on to pen the script, which will be an adaptation of Walter Isaacson's "Steve Jobs" biography. Apple cofounder Steve Wozniak is also attached to the film as a "tutor" to cast and crew.

In subsequent interviews, Sorkin revealed the movie will consist of scenes that take place before the unveilings of three key products: the original Mac, NeXT and the iPod. Jobs was well known for his public speaking prowess, especially during keynotes and product introductions.

The upcoming movie will be the second attempt at a Steve Jobs feature after indie film "Jobs," the ill-received Ashton Kutcher vehicle released in 2013.



21 Comments

creatility 11 Years · 3 comments

Would love to see a film that covers Apple's initial decision to create the iPhone through Steve Jobs final days.

lord amhran 12 Years · 900 comments

Hopefully he does a better job than Isaacson did.

bestkeptsecret 13 Years · 4289 comments

I really hope they hire a great director to helm this. The Social Network was very watchable since it had David Fincher directing Alan's script.

Fincher's visual style is top-notch, as is his directing style.

 

The Steve Jobs movie will live or die based on the director they select.

kpluck 16 Years · 498 comments

If anyone is really interested in Steve Jobs I am pretty sure you won't be interested in the movie made from Sorkin's script. He isn't concerned about getting facts correct, he will just be concerned about making a movie that sells tickets and gets awards. I know that sounds like I am bashing him but you shouldn't take it that way. That really isn't my point. He just wants to make entertaining movies and that is his focus. He has said as much in various interviews. Sorkin is a talented guy but he isn't the one you want writing a movie about Steve Jobs if you want a factual history lesson. -kpluck

arlor 13 Years · 533 comments

Quote:
Originally Posted by kpluck 

If anyone is really interested in Steve Jobs I am pretty sure you won't be interested in the movie made from Sorkin's script. He isn't concerned about getting facts correct, he will just be concerned about making a movie that sells tickets and gets awards.

I know that sounds like I am bashing him but you shouldn't take it that way. That really isn't my point. He just wants to make entertaining movies and that is his focus. He has said as much in various interviews.

Sorkin is a talented guy but he isn't the one you want writing a movie about Steve Jobs if you want a factual history lesson.

-kpluck

 

True, but a factual history lesson is something we'll watch on PBS, not in theaters. I don't expect them to be the same. The Social Network isn't the true story of Facebook, but it's a good movie. I'm not convinced that Jobs's story is as compelling (in terms of character dynamics, etc.), but Sorkin can write. At any rate, it can't be worse than the Kutcher movie.