Biopic focuses on the early years of Apple, includes bits from Jobs’ return and triumph

Apr 4, 2012 11:41 GMT  ·  By

Ashton Kutcher, best known for playing Walden in “Two and a Half Men” more recently, is ecstatic about the Steve Jobs role in an upcoming independent biopic based on a script by Matt Whiteley, and directed by Joshua Michael Stern.

Producer Mark Hulme revealed in an interview that “He [Kutcher] is already meeting with folks that knew Steve Jobs.” Hulme owns Five Star Feature Films, which is the sole investor behind the biopic “Jobs."

“He’s working with professionals to get inside the voice. He’s letting his hair grow out. I understand he’s canceled all meetings and actually canceled all other projects,” said Hulme. “He believes the role was meant for him.”

Opinions are divided regarding Kutcher’s ability to portray Jobs. Some people downright dismiss the idea, while others find him perfectly fit for the role. Much of the controversy stems from the fact that Kutcher, now 34 years old, has starred in numerous comedy films where he portrayed goofy characters.

But Hulme says Kutcher will “prove to the world that this is the right part for him.”

“When he read the script, he loved it. He and the director (Joshua Michael Stern) met two days later and they could tell that this was the right direction,” Hulme told interviewers.

“The physical resemblance is actually scary ... but he himself connects with this man in a very significant way. Of course he’s a big techie. He has a personal affinity to what Steve Jobs accomplished,” Hulme added. “Ashton is a much more intense individual than a lot of his current roles represent. We are feeling convinced that he’s gonna nail this.”

Filming for “Jobs” will begin next month. Kutcher reportedly hopes to wrap it up by Thanksgiving, in time for awards consideration.

“Josh, the director, said, ‘This project is so significant that I don’t want any actor to come on board that doesn’t believe in it and thinks that it’s award-worthy,’” Hulme said.

The movie will focus on Steve Jobs’ early years,  “between 1971, the initial partnership of Steve Wozniak and Steve Jobs, is where we would start and then the bulk of the script remains in the early years of Apple and the recruiting of [former Apple CEO] John Sculley from Pepsi and then of course Jobs’ ousting and a smaller portion is his triumph and his return,” Hulme reported.