Ashton Kutcher Has Intellectual Complexity for Steve Jobs Role, Says Producer Mark Hulme

Given the focus of his film on Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, Mark Hulme says that there was no better choice to play the pre-turtleneck era tech icon than the infamously shaggy Ashton Kutcher.

“Since our film covers the early years of Apple, when Jobs was in his 20’s, we needed an actor who could carry not only the youthfulness of Jobs at the time but also the psychological complexity,” Hulme told Neowin.net in a new interview. “Because of that, and Ashton’s physical similarities to Jobs, he’s perfect for our film.”

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Kutcher’s casting in the upcoming, $15 million-budgeted film from Five Star Institute was announced at the beginning of the month, to both surprise and head nods from those who saw the resemblance between the young actor and photos of Jobs in the 1970s and 80s. Hulme has never produced a movie — he’s a Texan businessman, not a Hollywood player — but getting the script to Jobs in Kutcher’s hands proved a savvy move.

“When Ashton read the script he was immediately attracted to the project. He is a Steve Jobs and Apple fan, and is technologically savvy, as well, so he recognized the historical importance of Steve Jobs and the potential of the project,” Hulme said. “He is very excited to have the role.”

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How Kutcher will perform is hard to say (though Apple fans have their opinions), but he does have at least the tentative endorsement of another Apple icon, co-founder Steve Wozniak.

“The fear that many might have is that Ashton was selected because he’s ‘hot’ right now,” Wozniak told TMZ earlier in the month. “But I feel that his selection was done in the most professional manner. And I’m glad that he’s onboard. I think he’ll put a lot into it and that he cares about this particular subject… It’s almost too bad that Steve Jobs is gone. His opinions and guidance, as to the story and film crew and cast would have been invaluable.”