Fifteen years after The Social Network reshaped biopics with its razor-sharp take on Facebook’s origins, Aaron Sorkin is back—this time shifting the spotlight from college dorms to congressional hearings. Titled The Social Network Part II, the sequel will center on the Facebook Files, the 2021 Wall Street Journal exposé that revealed internal Meta documents exposing how the platform prioritized profit over public good, knowingly harming teenage mental health and amplifying political unrest.
Sorkin, who won an Oscar for penning the original film, is confirmed to both write and direct the sequel, making it his most direct creative involvement yet. According to The Guardian, the script is well underway, with Sony Pictures treating the project as a high-priority production (source). The narrative is said to be darker and more urgent than its predecessor, taking a hard look at tech accountability in the post-pandemic, post-truth era.
Jeremy Strong Poised to Take the Baton from Jesse Eisenberg
Emmy-winning actor Jeremy Strong, best known for his role as Kendall Roy in HBO’s Succession, is reportedly in serious consideration to play Mark Zuckerberg in the sequel. As first reported by Deadline, while no official casting has been finalized, Strong is regarded as the front-runner to replace Jesse Eisenberg, who portrayed Zuckerberg in the original 2010 film.
Eisenberg has declined to reprise the role, citing discomfort with portraying Zuckerberg amid the tech giant’s increasingly controversial influence on society. “I don’t want to glorify someone whose actions I fundamentally question,” he reportedly told close associates, according to Decider.
Alongside Jeremy Strong, other potential cast members are being quietly discussed. Mikey Madison, fresh off her Oscar win for Anora, is said to be the top choice to portray Frances Haugen, the whistleblower behind the Facebook Files. Meanwhile, The Bear star Jeremy Allen White is rumored to be in talks to play Jeff Horwitz, the Wall Street Journal journalist who led the investigation.
From Dorm Room Drama to Global Reckoning
The original Social Network, directed by David Fincher, became a cultural phenomenon, earning over $224 million globally and securing three Academy Awards. Yet Fincher has since distanced himself from the idea of a sequel, calling it a “minefield.” In contrast, Sorkin has remained adamant about returning, driven by a belief that Facebook’s transformation into Meta and its expanding global reach warrant a new cinematic lens.
“I blame Facebook for January 6,” Sorkin stated in an earlier interview, underlining the moral thrust behind the sequel. His script aims not just to chart events but to interrogate the consequences of unchecked digital power.
The film currently remains in development, with casting decisions pending and no release date announced. However, the buzz around The Social Network Part II is unmistakable, with industry insiders seeing it as a potential lightning rod for debate, just as its predecessor was in 2010.
Visit Enterprise Wired for the most recent information.
