14 DAY TRIAL // Steve Jobs is either too complex of a character or some Hollywood actors simply don’t like the role too much. Whatever the reasons, Sony is seeing its second high-profile actor walk away from the role.
Bale reportedly stepped out “after much deliberation and conflicting feelings,” concluding that “he was not right for the part and decided to withdraw,” according to the Hollywood Reporter.
The news is very disappointing because Sony has been seeking an actor to reenact Aaron Sorkin’s script for quite some time now, and it has had not one, but two drop-outs so far (the first one being Leonardo DiCaprio).
Even more saddening for Bale fans, Sorkin told Bloomberg TV two weeks ago that Bale was indeed playing Jobs.
“We needed the best actor on the board in a certain age range and that’s Chris Bale,” said the playwright. “He didn’t have to audition. Well, there was a meeting.” Apparently, it would have been better to have that audition after all.
The film was on track to begin shooting this winter, but with Bale’s exit these plans might now be postponed. Produced by Scott Rudin, Guymon Casady, and Mark Gordon, the Jobs biopic will be directed by Danny Boyle.
Boyle is coming to Hollywood this week to meet with the other actors who are starring in the movie, and there seems to be some concern that Bale’s exit might affect casting. Seth Rogen is still on track to play the geekier Apple co-founder, Steve Wozniak.