Aaron Sorkin to Write and Direct The Social Network Part II, Focusing on Capitol attack and Facebook's Impact?
Fifteen years after its original release, The Social Network is finally getting a sequel, with the first film's screenwriter, Aaron Sorkin, set to write and direct.
Deadline exclusively reported last week that Oscar-winning screenwriter Aaron Sorkin (The Social Network) will write and direct the sequel, The Social Network Part II. The report cites sources indicating that this film will not directly continue the plot of the first but will instead adapt The Wall Street Journal's 2021 special report, "The Facebook Files." This suggests the sequel will revolve around Facebook's internal operations and its impact and harm on children, teenagers, and other countries. It is also widely expected to touch upon the January 2021 U.S. Capitol attack. While the cast for the sequel has not yet been announced, it is highly probable that Jesse Eisenberg will return to reprise his role as Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.
The original The Social Network, released in 2010, was directed by David Fincher (Gone Girl) and centered on Mark Zuckerberg's creation of Facebook. The film received stellar reviews, winning the Golden Globe for Best Picture and Best Director, the BAFTA for Best Director, and the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay, among other accolades. It is widely considered one of the best films of the 2010s and the 21st century to date, ranking tenth in The New York Times' recent list of the best 100 films of the 21st century so far.
Aaron Sorkin is one of Hollywood's most successful screenwriters. His early work, The West Wing, won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Drama Series four consecutive times, and he personally won Best Writing for its first season. In addition to The Social Network, he has also won Golden Globes for Best Screenplay for Steve Jobs and The Trial of the Chicago 7. In recent years, he has also directed his own screenplays, including Molly's Game, The Trial of the Chicago 7, and Being the Ricardos, all of which received critical acclaim for their performances, earning numerous nominations and awards.
Many are likely curious why David Fincher will not return to direct this sequel. It is believed this is because David Fincher has signed a deal with Netflix in recent years, with all series and films he has directed since 2017 being produced and distributed by them. This likely prevents him from directing The Social Network 2, which is a Sony production. Furthermore, he is set to direct The Adventures of Cliff Booth, a sequel to Once Upon a Time in Hollywood starring Brad Pitt, next month. This film continues to be written by Quentin Tarantino, who originally intended to direct it himself but later canceled the plan before official production began. Subsequently, the film eventually shifted to David Fincher's direction and will be released on Netflix. This sequel will focus on Brad Pitt's character, Cliff Booth, as he becomes a "fixer" for Hollywood studios. The protagonist of the first film, Leonardo DiCaprio, may also make a cameo, and new cast members include Emmy winner Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Watchmen), Emmy winner Elizabeth Debicki (The Crown), Scott Caan (Hawaii Five-0), and Carla Gugino (The Haunting of Hill House).
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Photo: Sony Pictures