Of all the movies in the world that we weren't expecting to get a sequel any time soon, David Fincher's scorching 2010 Facebook film The Social Network — one of our picks for the best movies ever made — is right up there. At the same time, of all the movies that we weren't expecting to get a sequel that a sequel kinda makes perfect sense for, The Social Network is, again, right up there. And clearly Sony and writer Aaron Sorkin agree, as Deadline is reporting that Sorkin has just been set to write and direct The Social Network Part II, a follow-up to Fincher's film that will look at the continuing impact Facebook has had on society in the years since that first movie.
Stressed by Deadline's sources to be a part two more in name than in nature, Sorkin's self-penned and directed follow-up will explore the revelations of The Wall Street Journal's 2021 'Facebook Files', which utilised a slew of leaked Facebook documents to expose the social media platform and its owner's awareness of its complicity in perpetuating harmful content — from incitement to violence in developing countries, to imagery viewed by vulnerable teenagers, to the rampant spread of politically motivated misinformation. While Sorkin himself has in the past spoken of a desire to return to the dialogue opened up by The Social Network, particularly in the aftermath of the U.S. Capitol insurrection of 6 January, 2020, Deadline's sources indicate that Part II will cast its net wider than that particular event to reflect the wider findings of WSJ's 'Facebook Files'.
In terms of who'll appear in The Social Network Part II — or indeed when we can expect to see it hit our screens — that much very much remains to be seen at this stage, though reportedly several deals have already been closed as Sorkin courts a fresh ensemble for what will surely be one of the most coveted bookings in Hollywood right now. You would probably imagine Jesse Eisenberg will be back as Mark Zuckerberg given the Facebook founder's ubiquity in any and all stories surrounding his platform, but again, that hasn't been confirmed as of yet. We'll send you a poke just as soon as we hear more about what Sorkin has in store for us — and in the meantime, we're off to watch The Social Network again. As if we really needed an excuse. *Alexa, play 'In Motion' by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.*