More bad luck has befallen the upcoming Aaron Sorkin-scripted, Danny Boyle-directed Steve Jobs biopic. For Sony, the studio backing the film, has dropped funding and distribution.

Deadline reported the surprising news. No word has come yet as to why Sony has removed themselves from the project, but the site is reporting Universal is very much interested in picking up the biography film. In fact, they may have already greenlighted the film, and locking the deal down by tomorrow at the latest, according to a recent update. With that, the film shouldn't lose momentum, despite this studio speed bump.

Based on the book by Walter Isaacson, this is just one of the many problems the Jobs film has had in its development. In addition to being in direct competition with Jobs, starring Ashton Kutcher in the title role, a couple years prior, they also tried courting David Fincher, who directed the Sorkin-scripted The Social Network, into making the movie, but he declined the reunion back in April. Academy Award-winning director Boyle filled his shoes not long after, but casting the lead of the film hasn't been easy.

At separate points, Christian Bale and Leonardo DiCaprio were attached to play the Apple icon, but both left the project. They may have found a possible replacement with Michael Fassbender, but that has not been confirmed as of now. Should Fassbender take the part, filming for the film will likely begin in the winter, in between the actor's shooting schedule for X-Men: Apocalypse.

If this all comes together, expect a meaty, word-filled look at Jobs' life. Talking to The Independent a few days ago, Sorkin revealed that his script runs about 181-pages long. Which, in traditional script counting where one page of a script equals a minute of screen time, would equal a three-hour movie. Though considering that The Social Network's script was almost just as long and rounded out a little longer than two hours, this may not be the case per se.

Set to be centered on three Apple product launches during sixteen years in Jobs' life, this film, unlike the other biopic, will be more focused on Jobs' estranged daughter, who helped Sorkin throughout his writing process. Key to both this and Social Network, though, is character.

“Both films are much more about the people than the technology they invented,” Sorkin said. “With The Social Network, I was interested in the psychology of the world’s most successful social networking system being invented by the world’s most anti-social guy. And in the case of Steve Jobs, it’s the relationships he had – particularly with his daughter, Lisa – that drew me to it.”

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