Could the story behind the upcoming Steve Jobs movie be even more exciting than the movie itself?
Having seen the movie dropped by its original backers, experienced damaging leaks as a result of the Sony hack, and topped off by a recent war of words between Tim Cook and writer Aaron Sorkin, now a new report claims that Jobs’ widow, Laurene Powell Jobs, tried to block the film’s release altogether.
According to reports, Laurene hasn’t actually watched the movie, but is basing her dislike on the fact it is an adaptation of the 2011 Walter Isaacson biography which she apparently hated.
“[Powell Jobs] refused to discuss anything in Aaron’s script that bothered her despite my repeated entreaties,” producer Scott Rudin told the Wall Street Journal. Jobs’ widow “continued to say how much she disliked the book, and that any movie based on the book could not possibly be accurate.”
Universal Pictures chairman Donna Langley is standing by the finished movie and says the studio is, “enormously proud of it.” Apparently, Laurene Powell Jobs was offered an advance screening of Steve Jobs so long as she didn’t publicly discuss it, but she turned it down.
The movie, it should be noted, has had rave reviews, with many suggesting Michael Fassbender’s portrayal of Steve is Oscar-worthy.
Personally for me, the bigger mystery is why everyone hates the Isaacson biography so much. While I totally get criticism on a technical level (this podcast review by John Siracusa is a great dissection of the book’s myriad errors), I never felt it was the damning appraisal of Jobs as a person that others apparently did.
Maybe it’s because I’ve read and heard so many people speak about Steve over the years, but the fact that he was a visionary entrepreneur with a dark side seems to have been common knowledge since the late 1980s, at least.
Then again, it can’t be easy to have a not-entirely-positive movie based on a deceased family member (and all the stories it will prompt) about to be launched into theaters around the world…
Luke Dormehl is a U.K.-based journalist and author, with a background working in documentary film for Channel 4 and the BBC. He is the author of The Apple Revolution and The Formula: How Algorithms Solve All Our Problems … and Create More, both published by Penguin/Random House. His tech writing has also appeared in Wired, Fast Company, Techmeme and other publications.
9 responses to “Jobs’ widow tried to block the release of Steve Jobs movie”
“Jobs’ widow tried to block the release of Steve Jobs movie”
I don’t blame her. It’s a movie that needn’t have been made… at least not now. Much has been written about Steve Jobs throughout his career—his history, successes, failures and personal issues—and yet another movie is not only unnecessary, but potentially hurtful to family, close friends and co-workers. Another tell-all, regardless of how well crafted by Sorkin and Fassbinder, smacks of opportunism.
Sorkin hardly needed to dramatize truths and stories we already know. He merely wants another feather in his cap. In that regard, he’s not unlike Steve Jobs, albeit on a far less significant scale. He not only has his own dark side, but apparently a similar need to overachieve. The difference is that Steve Jobs truly made an impact on people’s lives.
Just one man’s opinion.
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Would donating a portion of the film’s proceeds to Chinese workers assembling iPhones for 7 cents an hour make her feel better? Opportunism… Hmm.
Thank you!
Thank you for YOUR opinion, but public wants the Whole story and the Truth behind the journey or Mr Jobs. BTW there are many other true stories of infamous characters with dark sides……entertainment:)
You’re welcome. And don’t be such a dc’k, “Christina.” This is a place for opinions. Just because you’re a such a truth-seeker doesn’t mean you’ll find all the dirt you want in a Hollywood movie. In fact, quite the contrary. But then, most adults know that. And in case you missed the gist of my post (and others), it’s as much the fact that Sorkin delights in roasting the living and recently departed. That’s often needlessly hurtful to those left behind, all for a buck. If you’d actually read books about Steve Jobs, you know all you need without watching a British actor, however fine he might be, portray Jobs. Do you kinda get it?
I’m with her on this. Did we really need another movie about Steve Jobs made? I mean I’ll probably see it eventually, but just doesn’t really seem like it was necessary to make.
Hollywood reveals the Truth and sometimes it hurts….the consumer wants to know all! All good:)
“Hollywood reveals the “Truth?” With a capital “T”, no less?
So, like… are you like… I mean…like 12 or something?