Aaron Sorkin Explains Jesse Eisenberg’s Absence From Social Network Sequel

If you’re disappointed that Jesse Eisenberg won’t be reprising his role as Mark Zuckerberg in the upcoming sequel to The Social Network, director Aaron Sorkin wants to make it clear that it wasn’t for lack of trying on his part.

Back in 2011, Jesse was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of the Facebook founder in The Social Network, but in the upcoming follow-up The Social Reckoning, the part will be played by Succession’s Jeremy Strong.

During a new interview with Vanity Fair, the filmmaker claimed he spent three days trying to get the Now You See Me actor to return for his second movie, to no avail.

While reiterating that he didn’t want to speak on Jesse’s behalf, the director said: “He simply did not want to be conflated with Mark Zuckerberg anymore, that he has his problems with the guy.

“He doesn’t like kids coming up to him in airports with business cards that say ‘I’m CEO, bitch’ for him to sign.”

Last year, Jesse said he felt he was no longer able to “justify or defend” Mark Zuckerberg’s behaviour, following the decision to scrap the fact-checking system on Meta’s platforms, which include Facebook and Instagram.

Elsewhere in his Vanity Fair interview, Aaron Sorkin was quick to praise Jeremy’s performance in The Social Reckoning.

He enthused: “[I] followed his lead. He showed up on his first day, and when he said ‘good morning’ to me, he was already talking like Mark.”

While The Social Network told the story of Facebook’s formation, the new film explores the events leading up to the 2021 leaks that revealed that the site’s team were aware of harmful practises that it chose not to address in lieu of turning a profit.

Oscar winner Mikey Madison plays whistlebower Frances Haugen in the new film, which also stars The Bear’s Jeremy Allen White and Sinners’ Wunmi Mosaku.

An official synopsis teases: “A companion piece to the hit film The Social Network, Sorkin’s original screenplay is based on the events that gave rise to the Wall Street Journal’s shocking exposé The Facebook Files.

“The film is inspired by the true story of how Frances Haugen, a young Facebook engineer, enlists the help of Jeff Horwitz, a Wall Street Journal reporter, to go on a dangerous journey that ends up blowing the whistle on the social network’s most guarded secrets.”

The Social Network is due for release on 9 October. Check out the film’s newly-released trailer below: