Aaron Sorkin will write and direct The Social Network Part II, inspired by The Facebook Files and exploring Facebook’s global impact.
Aaron Sorkin is officially returning to the world of Facebook—this time from the director’s chair. Sony Pictures has tapped the Oscar-winning writer to write and direct The Social Network Part II, a follow-up to the 2010 hit that chronicled the early days of the world’s most powerful social media platform.
While the new film is being referred to as a sequel, insiders confirm it won’t be a traditional continuation of the original movie. Instead, The Social Network Part II will draw inspiration from The Facebook Files, a bombshell series of articles published by The Wall Street Journal in 2021 that revealed deeply troubling internal research and whistleblower testimony about the platform’s global impact.
Aaron Sorkin—who won an Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for the original The Social Network—is teaming with producers Todd Black, Peter Rice, Stuart Besser, and himself for the highly anticipated project. Though no production start date has been announced, industry buzz is already swirling as Sorkin prepares to cast a new ensemble.
This time, Aaron Sorkin will also step into the director’s role, taking over from David Fincher, who helmed the first film. Since then, Aaron Sorkin has proven his directorial chops with Molly’s Game, The Trial of the Chicago 7, and Being the Ricardos.
Sources emphasize that while the events of January 6, 2020, partly inspired Sorkin to revisit Facebook’s story—he previously said he blamed the platform for playing a role in the Capitol attack—the upcoming movie is not a “January 6” film. Instead, it will cast a wide net, tackling the social network’s influence on teens, mental health, misinformation, violence, and its reach beyond U.S. borders.
As for Jesse Eisenberg, who received an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Mark Zuckerberg in the original film, there’s no word yet on whether he’ll reprise the role. But given the centrality of Zuckerberg to any Facebook narrative, his presence in some capacity seems likely—even if the film shifts focus to new characters and whistleblowers.
Originally released in 2010, The Social Network grossed $226 million worldwide and earned eight Academy Award nominations, winning three. It also helped launch the careers of Andrew Garfield and Armie Hammer, among others.
Now, 15 years later, The Social Network Part II is poised to reignite that cultural conversation—this time spotlighting the darker evolution of the platform that once promised to connect the world.
