From David Fincher and Christian Bale to Danny Boyle and Michael Fassbender, Aaron Sorkin’s Steve Jobs “road to being” bears uncanny resemblance to the life of Jobs.

 

Writers have been penning down the history of personal computers since not so long and every such text has one way or another revolved around Steve Jobs. Paul Freiberger and Michael Swaine wrote about his rivalry with Bill Gates in Fire in the Valley: The Making of The Personal Computer and almost 3 decades later Walter Isaacson, a renowned American author and former executive of CNN and Times, published a best-selling biography which covers almost every aspects of his life.

A visionary genius? Nerd? Billion Dollar Hippy? It is simply not ‘possible enough’ to capture the life of Jobs from a garage in Los Altos, California to Infinity Square with literal constraints. His countercultural life style, complex relationships and intimate obsession with nature and Zen sketch an image that has way more than (your everyday) 50 shades. Noah Wyle’s portrayal of young and rebellious Steve Jobs in 1999 TNT film Pirates of Silicon Valley is one of the best I have ever come across. Then again in 2013 Hollywood attempted to bring back Apple Cofounder to big screen this time with Ashton Kutcher’s ‘Jobs’. Though the film was just good at best Kutcher, however, successfully depicted the genius narcissist of Jobs. 

To simply put:

13 films and documentaries, 19 Books, 3 graphic novels and 1 Theatre yet I cannot wait for the upcoming Michael Fassbender starrer feature film ‘Steve Jobs’.

Set to release on October 9^th, 2015, almost 4 years since Jobs left us, the Danny Boyle direction has generated hype that none of the previous attempts could do so. Those who have been following this Aaron Sorkin work from the time when it was just a rumor to the day its first look was released are well aware of the fact that it has travelled as intricate and difficult road as Jobs himself did. As soon as Sony Pictures acquired the rights of Walter Isaacson’s book Aaron Sorkin was hired to write the screenplay. Noah Wyle’s name was being considered for the role according to some sources but it was only after January 2014 that fog cleared and David Fincher, who previously worked with Sorkin on The Social Network, entered into talks for direction. Christian Bale, the first choice of Fincher, replaced Noah Wyle and joined negotiations for the main role. However months later the project hit a dead end when Fincher walked out due to other contractual obligations.

The script was handed over to Oscar winner director Danny Boyle who had eyed Leonardo Dicaprio for the role of Jobs. Both had teamed before for 2000s The Beach.  Now in completely different hands it seemed like the Sorkin’s work would soon see light but in October, after only 5 months since the departure of Fincher, it encountered another roadblock when Dicaprio left the project. The Hollywood Reporter mentioned Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Bradley Cooper as replacements but it was Christian Bale who was once again cast in the role of Steve Jobs with Seth Rogan (This is the End, The Interview) as Jobs friend and Apple Cofounder Steve Wozniak. Two months later Bale once again exited the project making room for the 12 Years a Slave star, Michael Fassbender. Contractual disputes and the Sony Picture Hack in November 2014 forced the company to finally pull the plug and abandon the project.

This not so shocking but sudden decision by Sony left the fans in a limbo with a hope that the project would soon find another home.

The wait ended soon when Universal Pictures acquired the rights for the project and production started to heat up. The Newsroom star Jeff Daniels was signed for the role of John Sculley in late December and a month later Kate Winslet was confirmed to play Joanna Hoffman. Katherine Waterston, daughter of Sam Waterston of The Newsroom, and Perla Haney-Jardine were cast as Jobs girlfriend and daughter, Lisa, respectively.

As Sorkin had earlier announced that the film would consist of 3 half an hour long sequences, each with the backdrop of a different product launch, the principal photography took place at the locations of original unveiling of those products. These include Flint Center, Opera House and Civic Center among others. The backstage sequences will be supported by flashback cut scenes from earlier incidents in Jobs life. The final scenes were shot in April 2015.

The film is set to be released on 9^th of October by Universal Pictures and Legendary and what makes it a must watch is the fact that despite all the roadblocks and delays the project came into being. Here is the first trailer featuring Michael Fassbender, Kate Winslet, Seth Rogan and Jeff Daniels.

From Director Danny Boyle and screenwriter Aaron Sorkin, Michael Fassbender is Steve Jobs – in theaters October 9.
Posted by Steve Jobs on Wednesday, July 1, 2015