Who will play Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network sequel after Jesse Eisenberg says no?

Time of India

a day ago

Who will play Mark Zuckerberg?
About The Social Network Part 2
More than a decade after it redefined the tech biopic genre, The Social Network is coming back with a powerful new chapter. The 2010 Oscar-winning film, directed by David Fincher and written by Aaron Sorkin, chronicled the dramatic rise of Facebook and its enigmatic founder, Mark Zuckerberg . Now, its highly anticipated follow-up promises to go deeper—into the darker, more controversial side of Silicon Valley. With casting buzz already swirling and new storylines surfacing, this sequel is already generating major heat in Hollywood.While Jesse Eisenberg 's performance as Zuckerberg in the original earned critical acclaim, the actor has declined to return for the sequel. Taking his place—possibly—is Succession star Jeremy Strong . According to Deadline, Strong is in early negotiations to play the META CEO, although no official offer has been made yet. If finalised, the casting would mark a major shift in tone and energy, bringing Strong's intense screen presence into the heart of Silicon Valley's most prominent figure.Titled The Social Network Part II, the film is once again written and directed by Aaron Sorkin, and produced by Sony Pictures. It's described not as a direct sequel but as a continuation—a standalone film with thematic ties to the original. Alongside Strong, the cast is expected to feature The Bear star Jeremy Allen White and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood's Mikey Madison in pivotal roles.This time, the story will reportedly draw from The Facebook Files , a hard-hitting investigative series published by The Wall Street Journal in 2021 and written by journalist Jeff Horowitz. These reports exposed troubling internal practices at Facebook (now Meta), revealing how the platform knowingly allowed harmful content to thrive, affected teen mental health, and prioritised growth over safety. The sequel is expected to dig into these controversies, presenting a sharp critique of the company's moral decay post its explosive rise.With David Fincher returning to direct and Sorkin again handling the screenplay, The Social Network Part II is already shaping up to be one of the most anticipated and talked-about films of the decade. The project is being produced by Todd Black, Peter Rice, Aaron Sorkin, and Stuart Besser.