The Social Network 2 is officially happening, but Jesse Eisenberg is reportedly not on board, raising the biggest question surrounding the upcoming movie: who will play Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg?
A lot has changed since the first film dropped in 2010. Back then, Facebook was just a social media giant. Today, it’s a symbol of the evils of modern technology, with everything from data privacy nightmares and disinformation scandals to moms sharing Minions memes about wine and anxiety.
Zuckerberg himself has transformed from awkward genius to, in the eyes of many, a global supervillain. As such, news that a Social Network sequel is in development has been met with both excitement and apprehension.
The original, directed by Mindhunter’s David Fincher, captured the birth of Facebook with razor-sharp precision. But it’s been 15 years since then, with the follow-up demanding a fresh cast, a new filmmaker at the helm, and a story that dives headfirst into the chaos that followed.
Since it’s still in the early development phase, the upcoming movie – named The Social Network Part II at the time of writing – doesn’t have a release date right now.
After years of speculation following the original’s success, Deadline reported in June 2025 that a sequel is in the works at Sony, with Aaron Sorkin taking on both writing and directing duties.
Sorkin won an Oscar for penning The Social Network’s script, so while Fincher won’t be heading back to the director’s chair, the sequel is in good hands. He’ll also be producing, alongside Todd Black, Peter Rice, and Stuart Besser.
Although it might still be a way off, sources told Deadline that with various deals closed, Sorkin will be focusing on finding his cast. Speaking of which…
Will Jesse Eisenberg return as Mark Zuckerberg?
Signs point to no. Sources told The Hollywood Reporter that Eisenberg, who was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of Zuckerberg, has passed on reprising his role as the CEO of Facebook, now known as Meta.
That’s not to say it can’t happen in the future, but for now it’s looking unlikely. The report, released on July 31, 2025, states, “Whether that is a negotiating tactic or not remains to be seen.”
Multiple outlets have since said numerous other actors are now being considered for the role in The Social Network 2.
The Social Network 2 cast speculation
Right now, the frontrunner is Succession star Jeremy Strong, with insiders suggesting he may play a Wall Street Journal reporter or take over from Eisenberg as Mark Zuckerberg.
Anora star Mikey Madison is being considered for the role of Frances Haugen, the data engineer-turned-whistleblower who disclosed Facebook’s internal documents to the Securities and Exchange Commission and The Wall Street Journal in 2021.
The Bear star Jeremy Allen White is reportedly a frontrunner to play Jeff Horwitz, the former technology reporter for The Wall Street Journal who broke the Facebook Files stories.
Sources told THR that the actors “have been meeting with Sorkin as he packages a cast and budget that he will then show to the studio for final approval.”
The Social Network 2 plot
As you may have guessed already, The Social Network 2 will serve as a follow-up to the original, turning focus away from the origins of Facebook and instead detail the Facebook Files saga.
As one of the biggest exposés on big tech to date, The Facebook Files are a collection of stories published by the Wall Street Journal, based on hundreds of pages of leaked documents from inside the social media giant.
Leaked by Haugen, the reports exposed how Facebook knew its platforms were harming teenage mental health, spreading political extremism, and undermining democracy – but did little to stop it.
The revelations triggered Senate hearings, global backlash, and renewed calls for regulation on technology. In The Social Network 2, this scandal is expected to form the backbone of the plot, suggesting Zuckerberg may not have as big a part to play in the new movie.
Nothing is set in stone at the time of writing, but we’ll be sure to keep this space updated as and when new details emerge.
The Pokémon Company Calls on Fans to Stop 'Attacking or Slandering' Illustrator Embroiled in TCG Pocket Plagiarism Scandal