More than a decade after scripting the award-winning The Social Network, Aaron Sorkin is stepping back into the Facebook universe — only this time, he’s not just writing it. According to a report from Deadline, Sorkin is set to direct a follow-up film for Sony Pictures that picks up not where the first left off, but where Facebook is now — tangled in controversies far beyond dorm room coding and Harvard rivalries.
The original 2010 film, helmed by acclaimed director David Fincher (Zodiac, Fight Club), chronicled the chaotic early days of Facebook — from its conception in a Harvard dorm room by Mark Zuckerberg to the ensuing legal and personal battles that accompanied its meteoric rise. Jesse Eisenberg delivered a sharp and cold portrayal of Zuckerberg, joined by a standout cast including Andrew Garfield as co-founder Eduardo Saverin, Justin Timberlake as Napster’s Sean Parker, Armie Hammer in a dual role as the Winklevoss twins, Rooney Mara as Zuckerberg’s ex, and Rashida Jones as one of his lawyers. The film was a critical and commercial success, winning three Academy Awards: Best Adapted Screenplay (Sorkin), Best Film Editing, and Best Original Score (Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross).
Fast forward 15 years, and The Social Network remains eerily relevant — clips from the film still go viral, especially amid discussions about tech ethics, surveillance capitalism, and digital monopolies. Now, Sorkin is reportedly developing a new story, and this time, the focus isn’t on creation — it’s on consequence.
A Darker Sequel: From Innovation to Influence
While this new project is being casually labeled a “part two,” insiders suggest it won’t be a traditional sequel. Instead, the film will serve as a thematic continuation — a darker, more global examination of what Facebook has become.
The story is expected to draw heavily from The Facebook Files, a bombshell investigative series published by The Wall Street Journal in 2021. Written by journalist Jeff Horwitz, the series revealed a series of internal documents and whistleblower accounts that exposed Facebook’s complicity — or inaction — in a number of damaging social trends and events.
Central to the film’s reported plot is Facebook followers. It will involve the events surrounding US riots in the past few years. It will also explore the platform’s role in worsening teen mental health, amplifying political division, and fueling global misinformation — from ethnic violence abroad to culture wars at home.
Sorkin in the Director’s Chair
One of the most notable shifts this time around: Sorkin himself will direct the movie. This marks a major change from the original, which was directed by Fincher and widely praised for its taut pacing and razor-sharp tone. With Sorkin behind the camera, fans can expect a more dialogue-driven and emotionally layered perspective — something he’s honed through works like The Trial of the Chicago 7 and Molly’s Game.
Casting announcements remain under wraps. There’s no confirmation yet on whether any of the original stars — especially Eisenberg — will reprise their roles. Given the time jump and new thematic focus, the next chapter may involve a new cast altogether.
What’s clear, however, is that Sorkin has found a new narrative lens to explore the tech giant: one rooted not in entrepreneurial genius, but in ethical reckoning.