Aaron Sorkin to write script for Sony's Steve Jobs biopic

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On May 16, 2012

 

It has long been reported that Sony is working on an adaptation of Walter Isaacson’s authorized biography of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, yesterday Sony announced that Aaron Sorkin, the award-winning writer who wrote the screenplay for The Social Network, has agreed to write the script for the biopic.

Sony Pictures Entertainment announced on Tuesday that Sorkin had signed on to the project, Sony Pictures co-chairman Amy Pascal says:

“There is no writer working in Hollywood today who is more capable of capturing such an extraordinary life for the screen than Aaron Sorkin; in his hands, we’re confident that the film will be everything that Jobs himself was: captivating, entertaining, and polarizing.”

Readers might know that Sorkin won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for his work on The Social Network and is well known for creating the television show The West Wing.

Isaacson’s book, “Steve Jobs,” was Amazon’s best-selling book last year, even though it was released towards the end of the year and thus only having weeks to reach the top of the charts.
The biography was released after Jobs passed away last October at the age of 56. According to rumors Sony signed a seven-figure deal for the book’s movie rights just days after the death of the Apple co-founder.

While Sony might have the official story from Isaacson, they may find themselves beat to screens by “Jobs: Get Inspired,” an independent biopic about Jobs that could arrive as early as later this year. Actor Ashton Kutcher will take the title role in “Jobs: Get Inspired”, which is currently slated for a fourth-quarter 2012 release. The actor who will take on the role of Jobs in the Sony Picture has yet to be decided.