From Harvard Dorm to Global Crisis: Aaron Sorkin Developing “The Social Network Part II”
Aaron Sorkin has long hinted at the potential for a sequel to his Oscar-winning 2010 film, The Social Network, which he wrote and David Fincher directed. That film, based on Ben Mezrich’s “The Accidental Millionaires,” starred Jesse Eisenberg as a young Mark Zuckerberg, and tracked Zuckerberg’s early years at Harvard when he created the social networking site that would end up becoming the colossus Facebook, and the legal troubles that arose when he was challenged by the Winklevoss twins, who claimed Zuckerberg stole their idea, and by his co-founder, Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield), who was boxed out of the business. The Social Network was a riveting drama, featuring Sorkin’s whip-smart script, Fincher’s masterful control, and outstanding performances. It garnered eight Oscar nominations, including one for Best Picture, and won three, with one of those awards going to Sorkin for Best Adapted Screenplay. It also, in hindsight, represented a version of Facebook that felt only mildly distressing. Needless to say, Sorkin has plenty more material to work with now.
Deadline reports that Sorkin has found his angle. The new script will be based on the reporting by The Wall Street Journal‘s Jeff Horowitz in his explosive series, “The Facebook Files,” published in October 2021. This series was based on a trove of internal Facebook documents leaked by whistleblower Frances Haugen, a former product manager at the company. Some of the explosive details included that Facebook (now Meta) was aware of the numerous harmful societal effects of its platforms, but it often downplayed those findings or failed to address them. The exposé painted a picture of Zuckerberg’s company that was about growth over user safety, and included details about how Facebook’s platforms had a harmful impact on teenage girls, exempted high-profile users from content moderation (essentially allowing them to remain on the platform no matter how pernicious their content was, sometimes garnering billions of views), and its part in fueling misinformation and division with its algorithms.
Sorkin will take on the directing duties himself this time around, having helmed a slew of films since The Social Network premiered, including Being the Ricardos, The Trial of the Chicago 7, and the underrated Molly’s Game. Deadline reports that Sorkin is now turning to casting. It’s unclear whether Eisenberg will reprise his role as Zuckerberg, although it seems likely he’ll appear in some capacity. Eisenberg has gone on to become a director himself, helming last year’s excellent, Oscar-nominated A Real Pain; however, one imagines that despite his busy schedule, he’ll have a hard time saying no to a chance to reteam with Sorkin.
Featured image: HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – APRIL 27: Aaron Sorkin speaks during the 49th AFI Life Achievement Award Gala Tribute celebrating Nicole Kidman at Dolby Theatre on April 27, 2024 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)
