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Report: Christian Bale drops Steve Jobs role in upcoming biopic

The Hollywood Reporter has learned that Christian Bale will not star at Steve Jobs in the upcoming biopic:

Sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that the actor has fallen off the Jobs biopic that is being directed by Danny Boyle. […]

Sources say Bale, after much deliberation and conflicting feelings, came to the conclusion he was not right for the part and decided to withdraw.

Just last month, the film’s writer Aaron Sorkin had stated that Bale would star as the Apple co-founder in the movie as Bale was “best actor on the board in a certain age range.”

Bale had only been slated to play Jobs since mid-October, according to a Variety report, but filming was expected to begin in the spring of next year.

News of Bale’s parting with the project is just the latest in a series of changes with those involved in the film.

Earlier last month, Leonardo DiCaprio had reportedly dropped out of the same role in the same film (Bale was his replacement). DiCaprio had been reported to be playing the lead role in the Jobs biopic since April of this year.

The role of Jobs isn’t the only big name to be in flux throughout the film’s development. Director David Fincher was originally said to be directing the Sony-backed Jobs movie, but was rejected by Sony and said to be replaced by Danny Boyle. Interestingly, Christian Bale was apparently Fincher’s first pick for the film’s leading role.

Variety shared last week that Seth Rogen is expected to play the part of Apple’s other co-founder, Steve Wozniak, in the upcoming biopic.

The Sony-backed Jobs biopic, according to Sorkin, will portray three half-hour scenes before unveiling the Mac, NeXT, and iPod. This format differs from the previously released Jobs biopic starring Ashton Kutcher in the lead role.

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Comments

  1. With any luck, Boyle will drop out next and Rogen after that. Sorkin can then make the whole movie himself.

  2. patthecarnut - 9 years ago

    I hear Michael Kelso err I mean Ashton Kutcher is available…

    Personally I hope the whole film gets dropped…Enough cashing in on a mans life already.

  3. drtyrell969 - 9 years ago

    Sad news.

  4. scumbolt2014 - 9 years ago

    Can’t blame him. Jobs movies always suck.

  5. puri517 - 9 years ago

    Really SAD! Bale is a great actor.

  6. 1sugomac - 9 years ago

    Seriously. Get James Franco to play Jobs and rewrite the script as a buddy comedy. Lots of weed and LSD jokes. Make fun of 70s/80s tech and culture.

  7. mpias3785 - 9 years ago

    I think we’ve had enough Jobs bio pics. What I would like to see is a movie about the early days of Apple leading up to the Mac or even the whole computer industry during the late 70s and early 80s. That was a more interesting time in the computer industry when you had companies like Commodore, Atari, Sinclair, RadioShack and others competing for the consumer dollar.

    This would be a good time to come out with a movie like that while most of the people involved are still alive and can be used as consultants.

  8. Dave Huntley - 9 years ago

    Bale would lower his career working with Rogen. Glad he dropped it.

  9. depdoc (@depdoc) - 9 years ago

    Top bad. Bale would have made a great Jobs. Just the right amount of a-hole. Kutcher was horrible. Rogen is great, but not as Woz. If this movie is ever made, I hope they give Woz the credit he really deserves. No wonder Bale dropped out.

  10. Jack Jazzy - 9 years ago

    Zach Galifianakis should play Woz.

  11. zBrain (@joeregular) - 9 years ago

    i heard ben affleck has been contacted…

Author

Avatar for Zac Hall Zac Hall

Zac covers Apple news, hosts the 9to5Mac Happy Hour podcast, and created SpaceExplored.com.