Jeff Daniels linked to troubled Steve Jobs biopic, Sony leak shows Sorkin wanted Tom Cruise for lead
"Newsroom" star Jeff Daniels looks likely to play former Apple CEO John Sculley in the upcoming Aaron Sorkin-penned Steve Jobs biopic, a Tuesday report said, as director Danny Boyle is said to have Daniels at the top of his list for the role.
Daniels is not formally attached to the project, but paperwork is expected to come his way soon, according to The Wrap. He would join Michael Fassbender and Seth Rogen, who are slated to play Apple cofounders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, respectively.
Despite being most famous among moviegoers for playing a simpleton in the classic comedy Dumb and Dumber, Daniels is primarily a dramatic actor. He has won critical acclaim of late for his performance in HBO's The Newsroom, also written by Sorkin.
News of Daniels's involvement comes on the heels of reports that starlet Natalie Portman passed on the role of Jobs's daughter Lisa. She was one of several noted celebrities to contemplate but ultimately pass on the film, including Leonardo DiCaprio and Christian Bale as well as director David Fincher.
The problems led Sony to sell the film's rights to Universal last month, though production is still said to be on schedule to begin next spring. In addition to Fassbender, Rogen, Daniels, and Boyle, Scott Rudin, Mark Gordon and Guymon Casady are on board as producers.
Update: Leaked emails from the recent high-profile Sony hack show Sorkin initially wanted Tom Cruise to play Jobs, saying that despite his age, Cruise handles dialogue well and would be a prime candidate for the role, reports CNN. Sorkin was successful in convincing Boyle and producer Scott Rudin, but in the end all was for naught as Sony let the movie go to Universal.
Daniels is not formally attached to the project, but paperwork is expected to come his way soon, according to The Wrap. He would join Michael Fassbender and Seth Rogen, who are slated to play Apple cofounders Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak, respectively.
Despite being most famous among moviegoers for playing a simpleton in the classic comedy Dumb and Dumber, Daniels is primarily a dramatic actor. He has won critical acclaim of late for his performance in HBO's The Newsroom, also written by Sorkin.
News of Daniels's involvement comes on the heels of reports that starlet Natalie Portman passed on the role of Jobs's daughter Lisa. She was one of several noted celebrities to contemplate but ultimately pass on the film, including Leonardo DiCaprio and Christian Bale as well as director David Fincher.
The problems led Sony to sell the film's rights to Universal last month, though production is still said to be on schedule to begin next spring. In addition to Fassbender, Rogen, Daniels, and Boyle, Scott Rudin, Mark Gordon and Guymon Casady are on board as producers.
Update: Leaked emails from the recent high-profile Sony hack show Sorkin initially wanted Tom Cruise to play Jobs, saying that despite his age, Cruise handles dialogue well and would be a prime candidate for the role, reports CNN. Sorkin was successful in convincing Boyle and producer Scott Rudin, but in the end all was for naught as Sony let the movie go to Universal.
Comments
Must. resist. gag reflex.
are you suggesting Jim Carrey should play Jobs?
How is it "troubled"?
That's what I thought, too.
Projected revenue isn't what Sony thought it would be. The movie was collateral damage. I imaging Universal picked up the project, but only with budget cuts, which caused everyone to bail. Now Sorkin is in vulture mode, picking his previous actors for scraps.
Who would Daniels play, anyway? Eric Schmidt?
Who would Daniels play, anyway? Eric Schmidt?
The report is that he'd play John Sculley
Who would Daniels play, anyway? Eric Schmidt?
The report is that he'd play John Sculley
they could both use some laxative revenge.
How is it "troubled"?
Soon it will be beleaguered.
I suspect that every Hollywood project is "troubled" (to some degree) until the premiere. It's just a very chaotic, rough and tumble, high-risk business. Of the projects that reach the stage that this one is at, I bet less than half make it into theaters.
Chrisann Brennan:
It's reported to be John Sculley:
I suspect that every Hollywood project is "troubled" (to some degree) until the premiere. It's just a very chaotic, rough and tumble, high-risk business. Of the projects that reach the stage that this one is at, I bet less than half make it into theaters.
This one has been a little more eventful. One positive it has going for it is that the screenwriter hasn't changed throughout the process. I would have liked to see Fincher stick with it as the director. I'm rather indifferent to the studio changes and actor changes (there hasn't been a drastic drop off in acting talent from the potential leads)
The makeup looks about right.
Who would Daniels play, anyway? Eric Schmidt?
Next time, read the first sentence in the article.
Oh great, its troubled?...
I find it troubling.