The Social Network Getting A (Sort Of) Sequel From Original Oscar-Winning Writer

Summary Aaron Sorkin is working on a script exploring the dark side of Facebook.

The new script isn't confirmed as The Social Network 2, but has similar subject matter and themes.

Sorkin blames Facebook's algorithm tuning for January 6 and plans to delve deeper in his script.

A quasi-sequel to The Social Network is being written by Aaron Sorkin. The 2010 Sorkin movie, which was directed by David Fincher and based on the 2009 Ben Mezrich book The Accidental Billionaires, was nominated for eight Oscars, winning five. It followed Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) from his college years through the rise of Facebook, as well as his contentious relationship with his business partner Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield). While a sequel to the movie was never produced, director David Fincher hinted as recently as 2023 that he would be willing to explore the possibility of returning to that well.

Per The Hollywood Reporter, Aaron Sorkin was interviewed on a recent episode of the podcast The Town. He revealed that he is working on a new script that explores the dark side of Facebook and how it has changed since the original movie was released, though it isn't necessarily the previously teased Social Network 2. Saying "I blame Facebook for January 6," he hinted that "you’re going to need to buy a movie ticket" in order to learn more about his reasoning. Read Sorkin's full quote below:

Look, yeah, I’ll be writing about this. I blame Facebook for January 6. [Why do I blame Facebook?] You’re going to need to buy a movie ticket. I’m trying [to make this idea into a movie.] Facebook has been, among other things, tuning its algorithm to promote the most divisive material possible. Because that is what will increase engagement. That is what will get you to — what they call inside the hallways of Facebook — ‘the infinite scroll’ … There’s supposed to be a constant tension at Facebook between growth and integrity. There isn’t. There’s just growth. If Mark Zuckerberg woke up tomorrow morning and realized there is nothing you can buy for $120 billion that you can’t buy for $119 billion dollars, "So how about if I make a little bit less money? I will tune up integrity and tune down growth." Yes, you can do that by switching a one to a zero.

How Close To A Proper Social Network Sequel Could The Movie Get?

Sorkin Says He Would Only Make A Sequel With David Fincher's Participation

As Sorkin says, there is much to explore in a potential sequel to the 2010 movie. While the Social Network ending allowed space for Zuckerberg to be a complicated character, it didn't necessarily question the value of Facebook in and of itself. This new script could do that, but the degree to which it could be a proper sequel to the movie is currently unknown. One hurdle is the fact that Sorkin has previously stated that he would only make a sequel with David Fincher's participation as director.

However, Fincher's previous sequel tease indicates that he may indeed be interested in a follow-up, and the Social Network true story grows even more complicated as time passes, which could potentially be appealing to the filmmaker. The other creative figure who would need to sign on to make it feel like a proper sequel would be star Jesse Eisenberg. Although the star has appeared in many hit movies since 2010, including Zombieland and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, he only has one upcoming project on the docket, which could leave his schedule open to returning as Mark Zuckerberg.

Eisenberg is attached to appear in the upcoming sequel Now You See Me 3 opposite returning stars Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher, Dave Franco, and Mark Ruffalo.

However, even if the movie isn't a full-on The Social Network sequel, it could still capture the tone of the original movie. Zuckerberg wouldn't necessarily even need to be an onscreen character, as it could focus on other influential figures in the Facebook office, leaving the co-founder as more of a shadowy, unseen presence. This would allow the follow-up to exist within the universe of the original movie without needing to lean on the original cast and storyline.

Source: The Town (via THR)