A sequel to The Social Network is in the works, and Aaron Sorkin is set to return to explore the next chapter of Facebook’s story.
As reported by Deadline and other outlets, Sorkin, 64, is currently working on a script for The Social Network Part II, inspired by The Wall Street Journal’s The Facebook Files. Sorkin, who won the 2011 Best Original Screenplay Oscar for the original The Social Network, will also take on the role of director for the follow-up.
Exploring the Next Chapter of Facebook
The original 2010 film, directed by David Fincher, told the story of the creation of Facebook, focusing on its founder Mark Zuckerberg, played by Jesse Eisenberg.
The film also starred Andrew Garfield as Zuckerberg’s co-founder Eduardo Saverin, Justin Timberlake as Sean Parker, and Armie Hammer in a dual role as the Winklevoss twins, Tyler and Cameron, who claimed Zuckerberg stole their idea for Facebook.
The Changes Since The Social Network
It’s unclear whether Eisenberg or any of the other original cast members will reprise their roles for the sequel. Since the release of the original film, Facebook has undergone significant changes.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has made controversial shifts in its content moderation and community standards on both Facebook and Instagram.
Zuckerberg, now 41, has become the third wealthiest person in the world, according to Forbes. His company has also been involved in several controversies, including his attendance at Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration and a $25 million settlement in 2021 over Trump’s suspension from its platforms after the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot.
The Facebook Files and the Sequel’s Source Material
Sorkin’s apparent inspiration for The Social Network Part II comes from The Wall Street Journal’s 2021 The Facebook Files investigation, which exposed the platform’s inner workings by leaking internal documents.
Director David Fincher’s Thoughts on a Sequel
The idea of a sequel to The Social Network has been met with mixed reactions. Director David Fincher, 62, referred to it as “a can of worms” during a 2023 interview with The Guardian. However, Sorkin, in a 2021 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, expressed his openness to collaborating with Fincher again on the project.
“I think what has been going on with Facebook these last few years is a story very much worth telling,” Sorkin said. “There is a way to tell it as a follow-up to The Social Network, and that’s as much as I know.”
Looking Ahead
While Sony has not yet commented on the project, fans of The Social Network are eagerly awaiting the sequel to see how the story of Facebook and Zuckerberg will unfold in the modern age.
