The Social Network 2 Must Only Happen On 1 Condition (& Aaron Sorkin Agrees)

Summary The Social Network 2 might happen with a script focused on Facebook's impact on the Capitol insurrection, pending Fincher's return.

Sorkin hopes to tackle Facebook's greed and divisive algorithm in a potential sequel, needing Fincher's direction once again.

While a sequel faces challenges in the changing Facebook landscape, getting Fincher, Sorkin, and Eisenberg back could lead to success.

The Social Network 2 may finally be in the works, but it can only become an on-screen reality if writer Aaron Sorkin's conditions are met. The original 2010 movie, written by Sorkin and directed by David Fincher, was the subject of high critical praise and triumphant Oscar wins. This, of course, means that a sequel has been part of the discussion for over a decade. Now, it seems that Sorkin is finally penning Facebook's continued story, and though it's not necessarily confirmed as a The Social Network sequel, the involvement of its original director would make it as close as it could get.

The Social Network biopic told the origin story of the popular social media site, Facebook, following founder Mark Zuckerberg (Jesse Eisenberg) through his college years. The film detailed the deterioration of Zuckerberg's friendship with business partner Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield). Now, Sorkin has said (via Screen Rant) that he is writing a script for another movie about Facebook, focusing on the social media platform's impact on the January 6th Capitol insurrection. However, the writer has said that the The Socal Network sequel will only get made if Fincher again directs.

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Why The Social Network 2 Should Only Happen If David Fincher Directs

Aaron Sorkin Wants David Fincher In the Director's Chair For The Social Network 2

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The Social Network wasn't a guaranteed success. There are many ways that the premise could have lost audiences' interest, but the combined efforts of Fincher and Sorkin meant that it was not only a critical triumph but an Oscar Award winner to boot. Of course, this wasn't Fincher's first rodeo. The director has a special talent for making dark, unsettling movies like Fight Club (1999) and even The Curious Case of Benjamin Button—films that make you shift in your seat but keep your eyes glued to the screen with their poeticism.

The screenwriter hopes to make a statement about the greed of Facebook and the way its algorithm uses the "most divisive material possible" to keep users engaged, and Fincher is the perfect director to get this done.

This was subtly present in The Social Network, where Zuckerberg's relationships slowly deteriorated as his success grew. There was something fascinating about watching this character unwind. In the case of Sorkin's new script, it seems that this intriguing darkness would again be a necessity. The screenwriter hopes to make a statement about the greed of Facebook and the way its algorithm uses the "most divisive material possible" to keep users engaged, and Fincher is the perfect director to get this done.

What David Fincher Has Said About The Social Network 2

Thankfully, Fincher has already shown interest in continuing with The Social Network 2. The director said (via Screen Rant) that he and Sorkin are already in talks about the project but that it is "a can of worms." It's difficult to say precisely what Fincher is referring to. It could be the political aspects Sorkin wants to explore that the director considers a can of worms. Or, perhaps Fincher is concerned about The Social Network's cast, especially Eisenberg, getting back on board.

Overall, Fincher's response is more or less ambiguous. The fact that he and Sorkin have talked about it all is promising, and the screenwriter actively writing something only adds fuel to the hopeful fires. Fincher certainly didn't say "no," so there is still a great chance that this sequel (official or unofficial) will get made one day.

The Social Network won three Oscars: Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score, and Best Film Editing.

Could The Social Network 2 Live Up To The First Movie (Even With Fincher)?

The Social Network 2 Would Have Large Shoes To Fill

If the stars align and Fincher and Sorkin get The Social Network 2 made, it still wouldn't be a guarantee that the film would live up to its predecessor. Back when the first movie was released in 2010, Facebook was at its peak, but the social media platform began to fall out of popularity in the 2020s. This could negatively impact the interest in such a project. Additionally, the first film was an adaptation of the 2009 Ben Mezrich book The Accidental Billionaires, which is why The Social Network qualified for its Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay. This time around, Sorkin's idea would be entirely original, which could make a difference.

Related The Social Network 2 Can Overcome Its Biggest Challenge With 1 Major Change The Social Network 2 faces challenges when it comes to continuing the first movie’s story, but one easy fix makes a sequel totally possible.

Something else that could factor into The Social Network 2's success is Sorkin's idea, which would make some political statements rather than tell a version of Zuckerberg's story. This would naturally make the film divisive and could have positive and negative consequences. In all, it's difficult to predict so early in the game what sort of success The Social Network 2 could muster. The first step would certainly be getting Fincher and Sorkin back together, and Eisenberg would likely need to get back on board to draw audiences in as well. Only time will tell.