Summary:
- Aaron Sorkin, the scriptwriter for The Social Network in 2010, recently revealed that he was writing a quasi-sequel for the Oscar-winning movie.
- The sequel will likely tackle the dark side of Facebook, such as the new algorithm.
- It is unclear if stars from the first film like Jesse Eisenberg, Andrew Garfield, or Justin Timberlake will reprise their respective roles.
Aaron Sorkin is at it again, delving into the digital depths of Facebook with a new screenplay that might echo themes from his 2010 hit, The Social Network. The Oscar-winning film, directed by David Fincher and inspired by Ben Mezrich’s book The Accidental Billionaires, racked up eight Academy-Award nominations and secured three wins.
The Social Network famously chronicled Mark Zuckerberg’s tumultuous rise to power, highlighting his eventually fractious relationship with co-founder Eduardo Saverin, portrayed by Jesse Eisenberg and Andrew Garfield, respectively.
In a recent episode of The Town podcast, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter, Sorkin teased that his latest project would tackle the darker repercussions of Facebook’s influence on society, including its role in events like January 6.
“Look, yeah, I’ll be writing about this. I blame Facebook for January 6. [Why do I blame Facebook?] You’re going to need to buy a movie ticket. I’m trying [to make this idea into a movie.] Facebook has been, among other things, tuning its algorithm to promote the most divisive material possible. Because that is what will increase engagement. That is what will get you to — what they call inside the hallways of Facebook — ‘the infinite scroll’…”
“There’s supposed to be a constant tension at Facebook between growth and integrity. There isn’t. There’s just growth. If Mark Zuckerberg woke up tomorrow morning and realized there is nothing you can buy for $120 billion that you can’t buy for $119 billion dollars, “So how about if I make a little bit less money? I will tune up integrity and tune down growth.” Yes, you can do that by switching a one to a zero,” he added.
Sorkin’s script isn’t officially dubbed Social Network 2, but it could serve as a spiritual successor to the 2010 narrative, further dissecting the social media giant’s impact under Zuckerberg’s reign, especially in its current controversial state.
While the prospect of a sequel intrigues many, Sorkin has made it clear that his participation hinges on whether David Fincher would return to direct. Fincher himself has expressed openness to revisiting the saga as recently as 2023, indicating a potential reunion could be on the cards.
The potential return of Eisenberg and Garfield would also be crucial in rekindling the essence of the original film, exploring further the complex dynamics between Zuckerberg and Saverin. After all, what would Facebook be without its two co-founders?
The ending of the original The Social Network sees the two’s relationship go sour, as Saverin sued Zuckerberg in order to restore his status as the co-founder of Facebook, so it’s exciting to see how the conflict between the two will go next, should the sequel happen.
Apparently, there is no confirmed release date whatsoever regarding The Social Network sequel, but if the project comes to fruition, it’s promised to be a blast on the Internet.
