Leaked e-mails from Sony Pictures show executives think Angelina Jolie is spoiled and producers think Tom Cruise could have been a perfect Steve Jobs.
The upcoming Steve Jobs biopic has been in development for nearly three years. The production was originally produced by Sony Pictures Studios, however after difficult contract negotiations between several actors including, Christian Bale and Leonardo DiCaprio the project was later sold to another movie studio.
But, according to a newly leaked emails from Sony Pictures, trying to get the movie off the ground was a complete headache. In the latest revelation it turns out that Aaron Sorkin was extremely interested in having Tom Cruise play the lead actor over Christian Bale and Leonardo DiCaprio.
Here are a few of the private emails:
Based on e-mail messages in the Outlook mailbox of Columbia Pictures Chairman Amy Pascal, which made up nearly half of the latest leak of documents by the group calling themselves “the Guardians of Peace,” it was ultimately Director Danny Boyle’s choice of Michael Fassbender for the role of Steve Jobs that blew up the deal, as Pascal and her team struggled to find someone to help finance the film with him in the lead. Then, as Sony reached a deadline for coming up with a deal, producer Scott Rubin and Boyle closed a deal with Universal to take the picture, sparking an e-mail flame war.
Both Tobey McGuire and Matthew McConaughey approached those tied to the film about playing Steve Jobs, and Tom Hanks was campaigning to play the role of Jon Sculley. Seth Rogen was [and is] lined up to play Steve Wozniak. [ArsTechnica]
CANNES, FRANCE – MAY 24: Actor Matthew McConaughey attends ‘The Paperboy’ Premiere during 65th Cannes Film Festival on May 24, 2012 in Cannes, France ( Andrea Raffin / Shutterstock.com)
Here are a couple of emails from Sorkin:
I’ve gotten Scott and Danny to the point where they’re now a little interested in Tom Cruise. Though both remain concerned about his age (me less so) everyone agrees that he’s an actor who can really handle language (Lions for Lambs, Magnolia, A Few Good Men) and a movie star who feels comfortable owning the stage. He’s in London filming right now and Scott wants to get him a script to read and a meeting with Danny before Danny comes here to LA next week. I’ve been warned that he likes to bring in Chris McQuarrie to re-write but [CAA agent] Maha Dakhil (who wants him in the movie) has assured me that won’t happen.
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I just got off the phone with Danny who’s concerned about the age but I think I got him thinking about it and he’s going to look at some scenes from Lions for Lambs where Tom’s basically auditioning for Jobs. He’s also concerned that the choice will be met with derision because it’s such a commercial choice but I honestly think that ends up working for us. Tom’s going to surprise some people and they’ll want to reward that. I don’t think we’d have to recast Woz. Seth’s the right age in the first act and Tom’s the right age in the third. And the movie announces itself pretty quickly as not being literal–as being a painting rather than a photograph. Look, I wouldn’t cast Clint Eastwood but if I saw Tom Cruise flying around the backstage corridors of Symphony Hall I wouldn’t think he was too old. I think it would be dazzling performance.
Amy Pascal at Variety’s 5th Annual Power of Women, Beverly Wilshire, Beverly Hills, CA 10-04-13 (s_bukley / Shutterstock.com)
Ultimately, Sony executive Amy Pascal and producer Scott Rudin had several fights, over whether David Fincher would do Jobs or a Cleopatra movie Eric Roth, the writer of Forrest Gump, had written for Angelina Jolie. Rudin thought Jolie was spoiled, and pointed that out in several emails.
The emails show what really goes on behind the scenes of Hollywood, with lots of people angry at each other for several reasons.
To get the full list of leaked emails check out Defamer’s complete analysis.
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