In a potential casting development for The Social Network II, actor Jeremy Strong is being considered as a replacement for Jesse Eisenberg in the role of Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. Variety reported on July 31 that Strong, known for his remarkable performances, is currently the top contender for the role originally portrayed by Eisenberg, who received an Oscar nomination for his performance in the first film.
In addition to Strong, Oscar winner Mikey Madison and Jeremy Allen White from The Bear are also reportedly in discussions to join the cast, though no formal offers have been made yet. The film is set to be directed and written by Aaron Sorkin, returning to the story after the success of the 2010 original. This follow-up will be based on “The Facebook Files,” a series of articles that revealed the challenges and issues surrounding the social media platform, stemming from documents leaked in October 2021 by the Wall Street Journal.
The first installment of The Social Network followed Zuckerberg during the early days of Facebook at Harvard University, earning critical acclaim and multiple Academy Awards, including Best Adapted Screenplay. Despite its success, Zuckerberg has expressed that the portrayal was “hurtful” and criticized the dramatization for entertainment purposes, emphasizing that the true nature of building Facebook was far less glamorous than depicted in the movie.
The anticipated sequel aims to delve deeper into the impact and implications of social media, potentially shedding more light on the evolving narrative around digital connectivity. As fans look forward to this follow-up, there is hope that it will create a more nuanced discussion about the complexities of social media in today’s society.