‘Social Network’ Sequel in the Works with Aaron Sorkin Writing, Directing for Sony
Aaron Sorkin is plotting a return to Facebook. The screenwriter behind The Social Network has written a sequel script he intends to direct as a feature for Sony, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.
The first Social Network movie was based on Ben Mezrich’s book The Accidental Billionaires, while the sequel is inspired by a series of articles Jeff Horwitz wrote for The Wall Street Journal known as The Facebook Files, which were published in October 2021 and explored the harms caused by the social network. (WSJ is not involved in the movie.)
Todd Black, Peter Rice, Sorkin and Stuart Besser are producing the sequel.
Jesse Eisenberg earned an Oscar nomination in a career-making role for The Social Network, in which he played Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. It is unclear if he will reprise the role for the sequel, though it’s hard to imagine someone else stepping into Zuckerberg’s Adidas sandals.
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David Fincher helmed the first film, which earned eight Oscar nominations and won three statues, included adapted screenplay for Sorkin. It earned $226 million globally, and remains a cultural touchstone, with memes involving Eisenberg’s Zuckerberg, Andrew Garfield’s Eduardo Saverin and Justin Timberlake’s Sean Parker still making the rounds.
Sorkin has spoken of trying to write a potential sequel in recent years, noting that he blames Facebook for the Capital riots on Jan. 6, 2021.
“There’s supposed to be a constant tension at Facebook between growth and integrity. There isn’t. There’s just growth,” Sorkin said last year. “If Mark Zuckerberg woke up tomorrow morning and realized there is nothing you can buy for $120 billion that you can’t buy for $119 billion dollars, ‘So how about if I make a little bit less money? I will tune up integrity and tune down growth.’ Yes, you can do that by switching a one to a zero.”
Sorkin, known as the respected screenwriter who pens dialogue like no one else, has also directed the features Molly’s Game, The Trial of the Chicago 7 and Being the Ricardos.
Deadline first broke the news.
