Aaron Sorkin is officially returning to the world of Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg. After years of speculation and intermittent comments about a potential sequel to The Social Network, Sorkin is now confirmed to be developing The Social Network Part II in collaboration with Sony.
The film will be based on “The Facebook Files,” a 2021 investigative series by The Wall Street Journal that exposed significant dysfunction and controversy within the social media giant.
The original The Social Network, released in 2010, was widely hailed as a masterpiece—a sharp, character-driven story that blended Sorkin’s signature dialogue with David Fincher’s meticulously stylized direction. The film won multiple awards and has since become a cultural touchstone for its depiction of the rise of Facebook and its enigmatic founder.
Sorkin will not only write the screenplay for the sequel but also direct, adding to his existing directorial credits, which include Molly’s Game, The Trial of the Chicago 7, and Being the Ricardos.
While he is an acclaimed screenwriter, Sorkin’s directorial work has received more mixed reactions, and the shadow of Fincher’s original remains a looming presence over the project. As noted by some observers, it’s not every day that a filmmaker invites direct comparisons to one of Fincher’s most iconic works.
Still, The Facebook Files offers no shortage of compelling source material. The reports highlighted Facebook’s troubling effects on everything from political discourse to the mental health of young users.
Sorkin has previously spoken about his belief that Facebook directly contributed to the January 6 Capitol riots—comments he made even before Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg renewed his public overtures toward the Trump administration.
However, insiders close to the film are careful to emphasize that the project is not intended to be solely about the January 6 events. According to sources, the sequel will take a broader view, exploring Facebook’s role in the 2020 U.S. election, its influence on teenagers and preteens, the platform’s contribution to violence, and its global footprint beyond American borders.
One major question still hanging over the production is casting—specifically whether Jesse Eisenberg will reprise his role as Zuckerberg. Eisenberg has publicly distanced himself from the idea of becoming permanently associated with the tech CEO, and it’s unclear if Sorkin will be able to persuade him to return for a second portrayal.
Whether The Social Network Part II will recapture the acclaim of its predecessor remains to be seen. What’s clear is that Sorkin sees the evolving story of Facebook as too relevant—and too consequential—to leave unfinished.