First movie on Steve Jobs to debut at Sundance

LOS ANGELES - Agence France-Presse

Apple co-founder Steve Jobs died of cancer last year. REUTERS photo

The first film on the life of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs since his death, with Ashton Kutcher in the title role, will debut in January at the Sundance Film Festival, organizers said.

The film “jOBS” directed by Joshua Michael Stern, known for the 2008 movie “Swing Vote,” chronicles “the defining 30 years of Steve Jobs’ life,” according to a statement Dec. 3 from the Sundance Institute.

The film written by Matt Whiteley is described as “a candid, inspiring and personal portrait of the one who saw things differently.” The movie aims to tell the story of Jobs’s life from wayward hippie to co-founder of Apple and revered creative entrepreneur.

The Facebook page for the film said “jOBS” “is the incredibly powerful and true story of the visionary who set out to change the world, and did.” The producers said on Twitter that “jOBS” will be the closing film at Sundance, which takes place January 17-27 in Park City, Salt Lake City, Ogden
and Sundance, Utah.

Based on a book by Walter Isaacson

Joining Kutcher in the cast of “jOBS” are Dermot Mulroney, Josh Gad, Lukas Haas, J.K. Simmons and Matthew Modine. Sony Pictures is also developing a movie about Jobs, based on the bestselling book by Walter Isaacson that was released after the Apple chief’s death last year. It will be scripted by “Social Network” writer Aaron Sorkin.

Kutcher, 34, was best known for TV shows including “That 70s Show” and “Punk’d” before he replaced Sheen last May at “Two and A Half Men.” Jobs died Oct. 5, 2011 at the age of 56 after a long battle with cancer.