Info in Movie News | Over 10 years have passed since The Social Network showcased the drama behind the inception of Facebook. Currently, Aaron Sorkin is following up on that saga, however, this time he is painting it in much darker colors. A Stanford student who became a billionaire was the main storyline of the first movie, whereas the new one is going to probe into the worldwide impact of the enterprise along with issues related to adolescent mental health and political riots, and even the division that happens due to the algorithm.
According to Deadline, Sorkin is officially set to direct The Social Network Part II. Though labeled as “Part II,” the movie is not a direct sequel but a thematic continuation, diving into the aftermath of Facebook’s rise. The project is being developed by Todd Black, Peter Rice, Stuart Besser, and Sorkin himself, who is also writing the script.
The new movie is inspired by The Facebook Files, a series of investigative articles published by The Wall Street Journal’s Jeff Horwitz in 2021. In these articles, the author revealed some deeply disturbing internal workings of Facebook, such as how the company was driving hateful content, turning a blind eye to the negative influence on young people, and being part of the chain of events for the violence and deception in different countries.
In a 2024 interview on The Town podcast, Sorkin stated bluntly, “I blame Facebook for January 6.” Asked to further explain, he said, “You’re gonna need to buy a movie ticket.” The movie won’t be entirely about the riot that happened in the Capitol, but it will still touch upon Facebook’s role in the world politics and online behavior during the 2020 election and afterwards.
First, Sorkin won an Oscar for his screenplay of The Social Network, which was based on Ben Mezrich’s book The Accidental Billionaires. Now he goes back to real-life journalistic sources for his new project, indicating a further shift to socially responsible storytelling.
Production time is still not set, however, the sources are moved that Sorkin makes an active effort to invite the actors. Nothing is decided yet if Jesse Eisenberg will come to play Mark Zuckerberg one more time, who was nominated for an Oscar due to his performance. Since Zuckerberg is a main character in Facebook’s story, most people think he will be there in some way but the part of his presence is still unknown.
For the first movie, David Fincher was the director. However, Sorkin will be the one who directs the sequel by himself this time. After sharpening his skills with Molly’s Game, The Trial of the Chicago 7, and Being the Ricardos, he’s seen as ready to helm a high-profile, timely project like this.
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has previously criticized The Social Network, calling its portrayal of his motivations “completely wrong” despite praising its visual accuracy. This new movie is likely to stir even more debate.
After news and discussions about technology, mental health, and democracy, The Social Network Part II is no longer viewed as a follow-up but more like a societal conscience awakening.
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