For years, Aaron Sorkin has toyed with the idea of a sequel to his Oscar-winning masterpiece, "The Social Network." Now, it appears that he has discovered the perfect angle to tackle for his next cinematic endeavor. According to reliable sources at Deadline, Sorkin is poised to direct "The Social Network Part II" for Sony Pictures. Insiders clarify that despite its moniker, this isn't a straightforward continuation but rather a companion piece to the original film that delved into the nascent days of what would evolve into the globe's largest social media colossus.
The film project is currently in development, with Todd Black, Peter Rice, Sorkin, and Stuart Besser serving as producers. Sorkin's fresh screenplay dives into the narrative inspired by Jeff Horowitz's explosive "The Facebook Files" series in the Wall Street Journal, published in October 2021. These revelatory articles exposed the internal mechanisms and myriad harms perpetrated by the world's dominant social network.
"The Social Network," released by Sony Pictures in 2010 and based on Ben Mezrich's "The Accidental Millionaires," was a resounding success with both audiences and critics, grossing $226 million worldwide. Nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, it won three, with Sorkin taking home the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay.
Since its debut, Sorkin has repeatedly expressed his desire for a follow-up but struggled to find the appropriate approach. However, following the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, Sorkin found renewed inspiration, stating in an interview last year that he believed Facebook played a role in the events. Sources emphasize that the new film isn't solely centered around January 6 but will also examine Facebook's impact on teenagers, pre-teenagers, violence, and countries beyond the U.S.
While David Fincher helmed the original, Sorkin will don the director's hat for this venture, having honed his skills since "The Social Network's" release. His recent directorial credits include "Molly's Game," "The Trial of the Chicago 7," and "Being the Ricardos."
A production date is yet to be determined, but sources indicate that with various deals sealed, Sorkin will concentrate on assembling his cast. Given the original film's launch of actors like Jesse Eisenberg and Andrew Garfield into stardom, agents across town will undoubtedly scramble to present their rising talents to Sorkin for these highly sought-after roles.
Regarding Eisenberg, who received an Oscar nomination for portraying Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, it remains uncertain how significant a role he will play in this new story or if Sorkin has reached out to him to reprise his part. While it stands to reason that most other characters might not return, it's difficult to fathom a Facebook-centric movie without some semblance of Zuckerberg's presence.
Sorkin is represented by WME and legal counselors Richard Heller and Andrew Hurwitz at Frankfurt Kurnit Klein & Selz.
