Katherine Waterston lands female lead in Steve Jobs biopic

LOS ANGELES, Dec. 24 (UPI) -- Katherine Waterston has joined the cast of Steve Jobs biopic Jobs.

The 34-year-old actress will portray the Apple founder's early girlfriend, Chrisann Brennan. The pair first started dating in high school, but their relationship deteriorated when Brennan became pregnant. Jobs denied paternity for years, but eventually acknowledged daughter Lisa Brennan-Jobs. Jobs is based on authorized biography Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson, with Aaron Sorkin as writer, Danny Boyle as director and Scott Rudin as producer. Michael Fassbender will star as Jobs, with Seth Rogen as Steve Wozniak and Michael Stuhlbarg as Andy Hertzfeld.

Jobs experienced problems in early development, with Christian Bale first attached to portray Jobs. Leonardo DiCaprio replaced the actor after Bale dropped out, but he too later left the project. The film's setbacks were chronicled in several leaked Sony emails.

Waterston has appeared in such films as The Babysitters, Taking Woodstock and Being Flynn, and portrayed Emma Harrow on HBO series Boardwalk Empire. She is scheduled for new Paul Thomas Anderson movie Inherent Vice, which opens in theaters Jan. 9, 2015.