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Christian Bale has decided against starring as Steve Jobs in Danny Boyle's upcoming film about the enigmatic co-founder of Apple, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Aaron Sorkin, who penned the script for the movie, told Bloomberg TV less than two weeks ago that the producers had chosen Bale to play Jobs because they "needed the best actor on the board in a certain age range and that's Chris Bale."
"It's an extremely difficult part and he is gonna crush it," Sorkin added, saying that Bale didn't even have to audition for the role. Sorkin has previously said that the movie consists of three scenes — each one running a half hour in real time — set backstage prior to Jobs' unveiling of a new Apple product: the Mac, NeXT and iPod. The screenplay is based on Walter Isaacson's 2011 biography of Jobs, Steve Jobs.
Citing anonymous sources, The Hollywood Reporter says Bale contemplated taking on the part and, "after much deliberation and conflicted feelings," decided to bow out. Sony Pictures reportedly offered the role to Leonardo DiCaprio prior to Bale, but DiCaprio also passed. Seth Rogen is said to be in talks to play another Apple co-founder, Steve Wozniak, in the film, which was set to begin production this winter.
