Aaron Sorkin will direct a sequel to 'The Social Network' inspired by The Facebook Files
Aaron Sorkin is returning for a sequel to his Oscar-winning film, "The Social Network."
A source familiar with the project confirmed to Business Insider that Sorkin will work with Sony Pictures to write and direct "The Social Network Part II," inspired by The Wall Street Journal's 2021 investigative series, The Facebook Files. The entertainment news platform Deadline was the first to report on the sequel.
While the 2010 film chronicled Facebook's founding, the source confirmed to BI that the new sequel will examine the tech giant's societal impact on youth mental health and misinformation and touch on the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
Sorkin, who won an Academy Award for his screenplay for the original film, will write and direct the new installment. Sorkin, Todd Black, Peter Rice, and Stuart Besser are also producers on the project.
The first " The Social Network," directed by David Fincher, was a critical and commercial hit. It grossed over $226 million globally and won three Academy Awards, including Best Adapted Screenplay.
The film also launched careers for Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, and Armie Hammer. Eisenberg earned an Oscar nomination for portraying Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
Since its release, Sorkin has floated the idea of a follow-up on multiple occasions, but no details ever materialized. Sorkin also said in April that he blames "Facebook for January 6" during an interview with journalist Matt Belloni on "The Town" podcast.
The Journal's Facebook Files series is based on thousands of pages of internal documents leaked by whistleblower Frances Haugen, a former product manager at Facebook.
The documents obtained by The Journal revealed that Facebook (now Meta) knew about the harmful effects of its platforms, including Instagram, and downplayed the negative consequences.
Sorkin's recent directing credits include "Molly's Game," " The Trial of the Chicago 7", and " Being the Ricardos."
Casting is still in early stages, and the production timeline has yet to be finalized, but momentum could pick up fast with the film's coveted roles. It is also unclear whether Eisenberg will return.
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San Francisco Chronicle
3 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Get ready for ‘The Social Network II,' a sequel Facebook doesn't want you to see
Aaron Sorkin says he is writing and directing a sequel to ' The Social Network,' the Silicon Valley-set 2010 film about the founding of Facebook that won the prolific screenwriter an Oscar for best adapted screenplay. Tentatively titled 'The Social Network Part II,' the movie will be based on a series of articles published in the Wall Street Journal in 2021 called 'The Facebook Files.' The reporting revealed that the social media company, headquartered in Menlo Park and now called Meta, was aware of the harm that Facebook and its sister app Instagram could cause to teenagers. It also found that company leaders knew about the apps' role in spreading disinformation that could incite political violence, but continued to prioritize profits instead. Sorkin reportedly struggled for years to write the sequel to the Oscar-nominated film, which earned eight nods and won for Trent Reznor's score and Kirk Baxter's editing. He finally found inspiration following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, which he blames partly on Facebook, according to Deadline. The new film is expected to address not just the 2020 election but also Facebook's affect on teens, preteens, violence and countries outside the U.S. 'The Social Network,' directed by David Fincher, starred Jesse Eisenberg as Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Andrew Garfield as co-founder Eduardo Saverin — roles that vaulted both actors to stardom. In 2024, the film was selected for preservation by the Library of Congress National Film Registry for its 'cultural, historical, and aesthetic contributions.' Sorkin, creator of the hit television series ' The West Wing ' (1999-2006), has turned to directing in recent years with such films as ' Molly's Game ' (2017), ' The Trial of the Chicago 7 ' (2020) and ' Being the Ricardos ' (2021).
Business Insider
4 hours ago
- Business Insider
Aaron Sorkin will direct a sequel to 'The Social Network' inspired by The Facebook Files
Aaron Sorkin is returning for a sequel to his Oscar-winning film, "The Social Network." A source familiar with the project confirmed to Business Insider that Sorkin will work with Sony Pictures to write and direct "The Social Network Part II," inspired by The Wall Street Journal's 2021 investigative series, The Facebook Files. The entertainment news platform Deadline was the first to report on the sequel. While the 2010 film chronicled Facebook's founding, the source confirmed to BI that the new sequel will examine the tech giant's societal impact on youth mental health and misinformation and touch on the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Sorkin, who won an Academy Award for his screenplay for the original film, will write and direct the new installment. Sorkin, Todd Black, Peter Rice, and Stuart Besser are also producers on the project. The first " The Social Network," directed by David Fincher, was a critical and commercial hit. It grossed over $226 million globally and won three Academy Awards, including Best Adapted Screenplay. The film also launched careers for Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, and Armie Hammer. Eisenberg earned an Oscar nomination for portraying Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Since its release, Sorkin has floated the idea of a follow-up on multiple occasions, but no details ever materialized. Sorkin also said in April that he blames "Facebook for January 6" during an interview with journalist Matt Belloni on "The Town" podcast. The Journal's Facebook Files series is based on thousands of pages of internal documents leaked by whistleblower Frances Haugen, a former product manager at Facebook. The documents obtained by The Journal revealed that Facebook (now Meta) knew about the harmful effects of its platforms, including Instagram, and downplayed the negative consequences. Sorkin's recent directing credits include "Molly's Game," " The Trial of the Chicago 7", and " Being the Ricardos." Casting is still in early stages, and the production timeline has yet to be finalized, but momentum could pick up fast with the film's coveted roles. It is also unclear whether Eisenberg will return.
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