Aaron Sorkin Returns to Facebook with 'The Social Reckoning'

Aaron Sorkin is returning to the world of Mark Zuckerberg with a new film, 'The Social Reckoning,' set for release on Oct. 9 by Sony Pictures. The movie arrives 16 years after 'The Social Network,' which chronicled Facebook's founding. Sorkin now says his perspective on the platform has evolved dramatically.

"Back then, Facebook was a way to keep in touch with people you went to high school with. It's something much different now," Sorkin said. "'The Social Network' was about the invention of Facebook. 'Social Reckoning' is about what it's become and, in particular, Facebook's role in the rise of extremism and divisiveness."

The film's trailer debuted the same day Meta agreed to pay up to $18 billion in penalties over claims its platform endangered children. Sorkin hopes audiences will be both entertained and alarmed.

The movie stars Mikey Madison as Frances Haugen, the former Facebook data scientist who testified before Congress in 2021, and Jeremy Allen White as Wall Street Journal reporter Jeff Horwitz. Jeremy Strong takes on the role of Zuckerberg, replacing Jesse Eisenberg, who declined to reprise the part.

Sorkin began working on the project around 2019, after writing an op-ed accusing Facebook of allowing "crazy lies pumped into the water supply." He later blamed the platform for the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. The writer-director says he was initially hesitant to revisit the subject, given the legacy of 'The Social Network,' but was persuaded after meeting Haugen and Horwitz.

"I said at the beginning I didn't want to write 'Jaws 2.' I didn't want to return and fail," Sorkin said. "Then I met Frances Haugen and I met Jeff Horwitz and I started thinking more about it. I realized there was a terrific story and the only reason not to do it is being scared."

Sorkin has never met Zuckerberg, and Meta declined to comment on the film. The movie joins a slate of fall releases examining tech moguls, including documentaries on Elon Musk and Sam Altman.