Less than two months after entering negotiations to direct Sony's Steve Jobs biopic, David Fincher has parted ways with the project after talks broke down over the filmmaker's reportedly excessive demands.

According to The Hollywood Reporter's sources, David Fincher was seeking a whopping $10 million up front to direct the movie, along with full control over the project's marketing. Sony had allowed him considerable input into the marketing of his last film, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, allowing the use of his tagline "The Feel Bad Movie of Christmas." He also created a series of metal, razor-blade shaped posters that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars to produce, although they were never seen in theaters because they were not suitable for display.

Although neither Sony nor the director commented on the story, an insider claims that David Fincher could still re-enter negotiations, while adding that the fee he is seeking is "ridiculous."

"You're not doing Transformers here. You're not doing Captain America. This is quality - it's not screaming commerciality. He should be rewarded in success but not up front."

Last month, we reported that David Fincher wants Christian Bale to play Apple co-founder Steve Jobs in this biopic, and he was so adamant about the casting that the filmmaker would only take the job if Christian Bale joins the cast. The actor is not attached to the project at this time.

Aaron Sorkin wrote the screenplay for this adaptation of Walter Isaacson's best-selling biography. The movie is reportedly comprised of three half-hour speeches before Steve Jobs announced the innovative Apple products Mac, NeXT, and the original iPod. Apple's other co-founder, Steve Wozniak, is serving as a consultant on the film, which will be produced by Scott Rudin, Guymon Casady and Mark Gordon.