Ashton Kutcher plays the late Apple co-founder and CEO Steve Jobs in the upcoming biopic "Jobs," and he wants fans to know why he chose to play the innovative tech icon in the Joshua Michael Stern-directed film -- particularly given that it's not a entirely positive portrayal.

On July 16, Kutcher tweeted that initially he "had great reservations" about the screenplay, which "was not entirely flattering to [Steve Jobs's] character," but he proceeded for four main reasons.

First off, he didn't want to risk another actor stepping into the man's sneakers without due respect. "If this film becomes an enduring memory, of a man I admire," he writes, "I wanted to ensure that it was portrayed by someone who cared about his legacy and took the time to represent him in ways that people who were close to Steve felt to be authentic."

Kutcher also welcomed the inherent challenge, explaining, "I've found that the greatest rewards I've received in my life have come from jumping at the opportunities to take on things that scare me."

On top of that, he's already deeply invested in the tech world, having put money into and acted as an advisor for a handful of start-ups. For him, the film represented "a perfect convergence in my craft and my interests."

Finally, a firm believer in the power and gain of entrepreneurialism, Kutcher "loved what the film stands for" and wanted to bring Jobs's inspirational story to a wider audience. "I wanted to remind entrepreneurs that Steve Jobs wasn't always 'Steve Jobs,' that he struggled, that he failed, and that he rigorously persevered to build something great to improve other people's lives."

The movie details the major moments and defining characters that influenced Steve Jobs on a daily basis from 1971 through 2001. The film plunges into the depths of his character, creating an intense dialogue-driven story that is as much a sweeping epic as it is an immensely personal portrait of Steve Jobs' life. Directed by Joshua Michael Stern, written by Matthew Whiteley, JOBS was shot by Oscar-winning cinematographer Russell Carpenter and produced by Mark Hulme.

"Jobs," will release August 16.

Steve Jobs