“A movie about Facebook? Good luck”—that was the sentiment of many upon first hearing about “The Social Network,” but they underestimated the talent involved. Featuring a crackling script by Aaron Sorkin and precise, energetic direction by David Fincher, the film was less about the actual website, and instead chronicled the genius, hubris, ambition, flaws and vision of one extraordinary person who changed the way we interact online. Now, it looks like Fincher is at it again, telling the tale of another tech titan.
THR reports that the director is in talks to helm Sony‘s untitled Steve Jobs biopic, based on the acclaimed biography by Walter Isaacson. Sorkin, who was hired to pen the script a couple years back, has turned in a draft, Jobs’ former colleague Steve Wozniak is consulting on the film, and if it all comes together, you can bet everyone in Hollywood will be banging down the door for the lead role, while we try to forget “Jobs” ever happened (sorry Ashton Kutcher).
While some may see Fincher as perhaps repeating himself, Jobs’ tale is a bit different than Zuckberg’s. While both men have notoriously prickly personalities, Jobs was booted out of the company he founded, only to triumphantly return, turning around the fortunes of Apple, on the brink of going under, with a revolutionary line of products, starting with the first iPod. While other tech companies touted innovation (which Apple had in spades), Jobs made computing cool and accessible (the iPod wasn’t the first mp3 player, but it was the first one everyone wanted to have). It’s hard to imagine the modern digital era where we buy movies, music and everything else online without the groundwork Jobs laid down.
Indeed, Sorkin revealed in 2012 that his script wouldn’t follow the traditional cradle-to-grave format, and instead utilize three “real time” 30-minute scenes to capture the Mac, NeXT, and iPod product launches, in 1984, 1997, and 2001 respectively. That would certainly help distinguish this effort from “The Social Network.”
So, presuming Fincher signs on, what about “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo” sequels and “House of Cards“? Well, you can probably keep dreaming about “The Girl Who Played With Fire” because that ship has sailed (major discord there which may prevent this one from happening too as it’s Sony and Scott Rudin again). As for the Netflix-produced show? If it isn’t already obvious by the new show “Utopia” he has set up over at the competing HBO, Fincher’s moved on. He didn’t direct any episodes in season two and won’t be involved at all in season three either, beyond that same token exec produce title.