Sony is Already Developing a Steve Jobs Biopic, Acquires Book Rights

Source: Deadline

by Alex Billington

Well that didn't take long. Beloved innovator and technology industry leader Steve Jobs passed away just two days ago, and there's already a Hollywood biopic about him in development. Deadline is reporting that Sony Pictures is looking to make a $1 million deal to acquire feature film rights to the biography on Jobs that's being published later in the month. Written by hand-picked author Walter Isaacson, the definitive biography, titled simply Steve Jobs, was already moved up from its November release to October 24th, but has obviously gained heat in Hollywood. It's no surprise that Jobs' life story is worthy of a Hollywood movie.

The project is just now developing, but will be produced by Mark Gordon (Source Code, 2012, 12 Rounds, Talk to Me, Saving Private Ryan). There is no screenwriter attached yet either. The book they're adapting is a 448-page profile based on over 40 interviews with the Apple co-founder and over 100 conversations with friends, family members, colleagues and competitors. It's the first biography to get Jobs' full blessing and cooperation, and its author Walter Isaacson was chosen personally by Jobs, as he's written about Henry Kissinger, Ben Franklin and Albert Einstein before. Jobs story, for anyone who doesn't know, is fascinating as it follows the building of the world's most valuable technology company by creating the devices that changed how people use electronics and revolutionized the computer, music, and mobile phone industries.

Ever since I saw David Fincher and Aaron Sorkin deliver an incredible film on the founding of Facebook, I've actually been excited to see more technology/web stories, whether it's Google or now Apple. More than anyone, though, Steve Jobs' story is one of the most unique and inspiring, and one that would make for a great movie, as long as someone as talented as Fincher is at the helm. Jobs built the company originally from the ground up in his garage, was fired, then eventually returned, building Pixar in the meantime. This project may take years to develop anyway, and this is mostly news about the book rights being sold, so it may seem early now.