Recently, Sony pictures announced that the new Steve Jobs biopic would be penned by Social Network writer extraordinaire Aaron Sorkin. The movie, titled for some reason Steve Jobs, will be based on the best-selling biography by Walter Isaacson. Contrary to what you are thinking, this is not the indie Steve Jobs biopic starring one Ashton Kutcher, which has been getting all the buzz. If you have not heard this news already, there is a second film being produced about the Apple founder's life.
Why are they making two movies about Steve Jobs's life? I dunno? Why did they just make two movies about Snow White's life? Why did they make two movies within five years about the Hulk's life? Why did they make five movies about that dog Beethoven's life? Hollywood is an odd bird and we needn't ask silly questions.
Instead we should look at this as an opportunity. The indie pic cast Ashton Kutcher before we even had a say. It was like a viral dream; one minute we heard there was a Steve Jobs film in the works, and within one refresh we were told Kutcher would be playing the title role. Not that we have anything against Kutcher playing a young Jobs. He looks the part and he may pull a few acting surprises out of his black turtle-necked sleeves. No doubt Aaron Sorkin and Sony will look high and low for the perfect Jobs; as of this post no actor is attached. This is great. Now we can take wild stabs in the wind at who should play Steve Jobs in the second biopic, which is coming out at potentially the same time.
Noah Wyle
Wyle is an easy choice. For one, he has Jobs's appearance, and for two he has already walked around in those New Balance sneakers. In 1999 Wyle portrayed Jobs in the made-for-television movie Pirates of Silicon Valley. According to legend, Jobs was not a huge fan of the film, but did think Wyle was a good pick for the part. Jobs even had Wyle come down for the 1999 Macworld convention and impersonate him for the first few minutes of his keynote address.
The part could very well go to Wyle, or maybe that ship has sailed.
Stanley Tucci
While there have not been any rumors of Tucci playing an older Jobs, he fits the part. Tucci is an esteemed actor with a slew of accolades under his belt. Plus, he's played like a million other "real" people in movies -- Walter Winchell, Adolf Eichmann, Stanley Kubrick and the guy from The Devil Wears Prada, which is sort of based on a real person. Throw a beard on Tucci and he might as well be Steve Jobs.
Michael Showalter
There has never been much evidence of Steve Jobs's humorous side, but the guy must have had a funny bone in there somewhere. If not, he would have never allowed those "I'm a Mac" commercials to hit the air. Showalter would be a very goofy Jobs.
Daniel Day-Lewis
He can play anyone. He's that good. And with some gray stubble, he could totally be a middle-aged Jobs. Sony would need to be sure to reel him in a little bit because as good as he is, he's been reaching Pacino territory lately and Jobs was not a "Hooah!" type of guy.
