The Social Network’s sequel finally has its official title: The Social Reckoning. Dubbed as a companion piece to the 2010 hit, the tech drama will feature Jeremy Strong as Mark Zuckerberg, the co-founder of Facebook (via Variety). Jesse Eisenberg had previously portrayed the multi-billionaire and earned praise and critical acclaim for the same.
Here’s a look at all the actors who are currently in talks to play prominent roles in the movie:
The Social Reckoning will be written and directed by Oscar-winning filmmaker Aaron Sorkin, and the events of this film will unfold nearly two decades after Facebook was founded. The story centers on The Facebook Files, a series of 2021 reports that revealed the social platform’s harmful effects on teens and its role in spreading misinformation that led to political violence.
Why Jesse Eisenberg Did Not Return for The Social Network’s Sequel?
Jesse Eisenberg earned an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network.
Eisenberg simply did not wish to be a part of the project without David Fincher, who masterfully directed the original film. Fincher’s absence seems to be a dealbreaker for the actor! Sneider also noted that Eisenberg might not want to be permanently associated with playing Zuckerberg.
The role catapulted him into international stardom, but since then, he’s taken up other high-profile and diverse parts to explore his range. His decision seems to be in line with the growing trend of actors who step back from huge films, simply to avoid typecasting.
Moreover, he’s openly criticized Zuckerberg several times and doesn’t seem to respect the CEO at all. During an interview with the BBC, Eisenberg even said that he did not want to be associated with Zuckerberg due to his alleged problematic conduct.
Could Jeremy Strong Be a Better Mark Zuckerberg Than Jesse Eisenberg?
Jeremy Strong might be slightly older for playing Mark Zuckerberg in the timeline that The Social Reckoning’s events are based on, but he’s got a great track record of nuanced and complex roles. Strong has an Oscar nomination for portraying Roy Cohn in The Apprentice and an Emmy win for Succession.
Aaron Sorkin’s writing style requires verbose and intellectual dialogues that do not lose their emotional appeal upon delivery. Strong’s past work suggests that he could thrive with a creative like Sorkin at the helm.
However, it will be hard to one-up Jesse Eisenberg because his version of Mark Zuckerberg is now etched into a film with cult classic status. But do you think Strong can outperform Eisenberg?
