Whoa, what? Oscar-winner Christian Bale (best known for his star turn as Batman in the blockbuster “Dark Knight” trilogy) will play Apple co-founder Steve Jobs in an upcoming biopic? Yes, apparently so.
Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin (of The Social Network) has confirmed that Christian Bale will play Steve Jobs in Sony’s upcoming biopic about the famed Apple co-founder. Sorkin wrote the script, and Danny Boyle (of Slumdog Millionaire) is attached to direct. In an interview with Bloomberg Television on 23rd Oct, Sorkin confirmed, “We needed the best actor on the board in a certain age range and that’s Chris Bale.”
Sorkin, who won an Academy Award for his screenplay for “The Social Network” about Facebook and its co-founder Mark Zuckerberg, said giving the lead role to Bale was an easy call. “He really is a phenomenal actor. He didn’t have to audition,” said Sorkin, although the writer said “there was a meeting” before the British-born actor was given the part.
“He has more words to say in this movie than most people have in 3 movies combined. There isn’t a scene or a frame that he’s not in. So it’s an extremely difficult part and he is going to crush it,” said Sorkin, who is writing the script for Sony Pictures based on the 2011 biography “Steve Jobs” by Walter Isaacson, in which Steve Jobs himself sanctioned.
Watch the interview here:
Christian Bale received a best supporting actor Oscar in 2011 for his role in the “The Fighter,” in which he plays the older brother of a washed-up boxer struggling to revive his career. The actor had a breakout performance as the lead actor in the 2000 movie “American Psycho”, and also earned a lead actor Oscar nomination for his turn in last year’s “American Hustle”.
Previously, Leonardo DiCaprio was rumored to be circling the lead role, while David Fincher was in talks to direct. Ultimately and maybe luckily, neither of those options panned out.
The Apple inventor’s storied life already has been rendered on the big screen in last year’s drama “Jobs” starring Ashton Kutcher, which received lukewarm reviews. That having said, let’s see how this next Steve Jobs biopic will do with it hits the silver screens.
Also, something to ponder upon: With Christian Bale’s image as the dark and brooding caped crusader etched in our minds, how are they planning to make him look a little bit more like Steve Jobs? Here, a picture for comparison’s sake:
Christian Bale (left) & Steve Jobs (right) (Source: lovethatmag.com)
Perhaps another amazing celebrity transformation is in the pipeline?