A striking resemblance has helped comedy actor Ashton Kutcher to the role of Steve Jobs in an indie film about the Apple founder's early years, according to a report in Variety that its writer insists is not an April Fools Day joke.

The film, titled simply ‘Jobs', will be directed by Joshua Michael Stern from a script by Matt Whiteley, the report says.

It's a separate project from the Sony Pictures production, previously rumoured to be swinging between ER stars George Clooney and Noah Wyle for the main role.

Judging by the casting, the indie film will focus more on Jobs' experiences founding and growing Apple, while the Sony project will look more at his later years and possibly the illness which eventually took his life.

Kutcher's experience is mostly in comedy, in TV series That 70s Show as well as films like Dude, Where's My Car?, although he does have some experience in drama, such as in 2004's The Butterfly Effect.