Facebook Sequel Report to Tackle Platform's Scandals

The 2010 film "The Social Network," which chronicled Facebook's origin story, is getting a sequel.

Academy Award-winning writer Aaron Sorkin will write and direct the follow-up, according to Deadline, with the plot focusing on Facebook's more recent scandals.

Specifically, Sorkin is expected to draw from events detailed in the Wall Street Journal's "The Facebook Files," a series based on leaked documents that indicated the social media giant was fully aware of the societal damage its algorithms were amplifying.

Sorkin has previously expressed his belief that Facebook played a role in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riots, though Deadline's sources emphasize this sequel won't be solely about that day. Instead, it will also explore social media's impact on younger audiences and users outside the United States.

While Sorkin seems to have a narrative in mind, the project is still in its early stages, with no casting decisions announced. Will Jesse Eisenberg reprise his role as Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg? Sorkin has considered a sequel for some time, and Eisenberg has previously shown enthusiasm for the idea.

"Absolutely," Eisenberg told IndieWire in 2019 when asked about returning for a potential sequel. "It's rare to land a compelling role in a major film. This was a chance to portray a complex character, the kind you usually find in stage plays or indie films, but on a massive platform. For me, that was an incredibly lucky break."