Mikey Madison, who garnered this year's Oscar for Best Actress for her mesmerizing portrayal in "Anora," and Jeremy Allen White, vying for his third Emmy nod come September for his role in "The Bear," are reportedly circling the lead parts in Sony's hotly anticipated sequel to "The Social Network." Aaron Sorkin, the Academy Award-winning screenwriter behind the 2010 original, has penned the script and will helm this drama, which draws inspiration from Jeff Horwitz's groundbreaking "The Facebook Files" series for The Wall Street Journal.
Industry insiders emphasize that no formal offers have been extended yet, and the film is still in its nascent stages of development. However, it is a top-tier priority for the studio and progressing swiftly. Sorkin has been engaging in meetings with actors, meticulously assembling a cast and budget that he intends to present to the studio for ultimate approval. Conversations with Madison and White have already transpired, signaling that the pieces of this cinematic puzzle are gradually falling into place.
While the acclaimed 2010 film delved into the genesis of Facebook, now rebranded as Meta, this new feature will spotlight the company's internal reports exposing the detrimental impacts of its social media platform on teenagers and children, its awareness of misinformation spreading and inciting violence, and its contribution to the January 6, 2021, coup attempt.
Should deals materialize, Madison would embody Frances Haugen, the data engineer-turned-whistleblower who blew the whistle to the Securities and Exchange Commission and The Wall Street Journal with her damning information. White, meanwhile, would portray the former WSJ tech reporter who spearheaded the breaking of the Facebook files.
One insider compared the project to the 1999 film "The Insider," directed by Michael Mann, which recounted a whistleblower's revelations about the tobacco industry to 60 Minutes. Another likened it to "Spotlight," the 2015 movie centered on Boston Globe reporters probing child sex abuse by Catholic clergy.
Producing the sequel are Sorkin, Todd Black, Peter Rice, and Stuart Besser.
David Fincher directed the original "The Social Network," starring Jesse Eisenberg as Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. The film garnered eight Oscar nominations, winning three.
Madison has garnered numerous accolades for her work in "Anora," including BAFTA and Academy Award wins amidst multiple nominations. "Anora" itself won five Oscars, including Best Picture. Madison also made a memorable appearance in "Scream" (2022) and "Once Upon a Time in Hollywood" (2019).
She is slated to star in "The Masque of the Red Death," a chilling reinterpretation of Edgar Allan Poe's tale helmed by filmmaker Charlie Polinger, in early 2026. This horror venture originates from A24, which will distribute it worldwide, and Picturestart, which is producing. Earlier this year, she was in negotiations to lead the Star Wars feature "Starfighter," but those talks faltered due to financial considerations.
White has secured two Emmy Awards for his performance in FX's "The Bear" and will portray Bruce Springsteen in the upcoming true-life drama "Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere," scheduled for release on October 24, 2024. This film chronicles the creation of Springsteen's album "Nebraska."
