IT'S ONE thing for Hollywood to keep re-telling the story of Jesus or keep re-making Superman movies, but is it already time for another biopic on Steve Jobs?
The Ashton Kutcher version came out last year.
TheWrap.com, however, reports that Christian Bale is David Fincher's choice to play Jobs in a new untitled movie that Aaron Sorkin has written for Sony.
Fincher recently met with Sony's Amy Pascal to discuss the possibility of directing the film, and told her, in no uncertain terms, that he'd helm the project only if Bale plays Jobs.
Bale has been considered a prime contender to play the Apple founder since the project was first announced because of his physical resemblance to the Apple co-founder.
Does that matter?
Bale doesn't look anything like Charlton Heston and he recently wrapped filming the role of Moses in Ridley Scott's "Exodus."
Sorkin, who won an Oscar for writing Fincher's Facebook drama, "The Social Network," based his script on Walter Isaacson's best-selling authorized biography. Production could begin before the end of the year, though an early 2015 start is more likely.
Even though Kutcher's "Jobs" did not set the box office on fire, Sony believes that there is considerable interest across the globe in a Jobs movie made by A-list talent.
On behalf of Ashton Kutcher, that's cold, Sony. Cold.
Is CAA Josh-ing GMA
For those of you who watch TV in the morning, the New York Post reports that "Good Morning America" and co-host are down to the wire negotiating a new contract.Elliott was making about $1.2 million a year.
He reportedly wants $8 million. ABC is reportedly offering $4 million.
Given that some fine journalists at the Daily News would have to work 80 years to earn $4 million, that seems like a lot of money.
Bennett blasts pop
Want to know what current music Tony Bennett likes to listen to?Not much.
"The songs that are written today, most of them are terrible," Tony told BBC Radio 4. "It's a very bad period, musically, throughout the world for popular music.
Bennett, however, doesn't blame the musicians, he blames the money-hungry labels producing the crappy hits.
"They think the public is ignorant, so their attitude is, 'Don't give them anything intelligent, because it won't sell,' " Bennett continued. "I grew up in an era where the record companies just sold records to everybody, and the whole family bought songs. Today, record companies are failing because they are putting their accent just on the young, and I think that's rather silly. They're missing out on thousands of people that would love to buy records but they don't buy them because they don't have a lasting quality."
TATTBITS
* Denzel Washington helped Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin celebrate her 72nd birthday in style, and Andre 3000 and Babyface are working on new music for the icon.Franklin held an exclusive and small party Saturday in New York City for her birthday, which is tomorrow. Washington entered the Ritz-Carlton Hotel quietly, though the crowd got excited after realizing it was the Oscar winner under a baseball cap.
Franklin thanked the actor for attending. Just hours earlier, she saw him onstage in the Broadway play, "A Raisin in the Sun."
* AC/DC lead singer Brian Johnson made a surprise appearance at Billy Joel's concert at Madison Square Garden on Friday night and played the metal band's classic "You Shook Me All Night Long."
Joel introduced Johnson about halfway through the show, saying Johnson was part of one of the best bands he'd ever seen live. The packed arena erupted when Joel and his band began playing the rock anthem with Johnson on lead vocals.
* Speaking of Madison Square Garden, the company is now a 50 percent owner of Tribeca Enterprises, a film company co-founded by Robert De Niro.
The deal was announced Saturday night. It combines two major New York show-business players, gives Tribeca Enterprises the marketing power of a growing sports and entertainment company and offers the MSG Co. an entry into the film business.
The deal values Tribeca Enterprises at $45 million. The company was co-founded by De Niro and Jane Rosenthal, who will remain CEO.
Among the properties owned by the MSG Co. are Radio City Music Hall, the Beacon Theatre, the New York Knicks and the New York Rangers.
* A man accused of firing a gun as he tried to make off with costumes and props used by Thunder From Down Under male performers in Las Vegas denies the allegations against him.
In jailhouse interviews Friday with KLAS-TV and the Las Vegas Sun, Joey Kadmiri said he suffers from mental-health and drug problems and needs outpatient therapy.
And sixpack abs.
- Daily News wire services
contributed to this report.
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