Mikey Madison, Jeremy Allen White in Talks for Aaron Sorkin's 'The Social Network' Sequel
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Sony's follow-up to David Fincher's Oscar-winning film will reportedly center on whistleblowers, misinformation, and Facebook's real-world impact.
Mikey Madison, who won this year’s best actress Oscar for her performance in Anora, and Jeremy Allen White, who is eyeing a third consecutive Emmy win for The Bear this September, are circling the lead roles in Sony’s sequel to The Social Network.
Aaron Sorkin, who took home the Academy Award for writing the original 2010 feature, has penned the script and is set to direct the follow-up. The new film draws from The Facebook Files, a series of investigative reports by Wall Street Journal journalist Jeff Horwitz, that revealed Facebook’s internal knowledge of the harmful effects its platform was having on society.
Insiders emphasize that no official offers have been made and the film remains in early development. However, the project is being treated as a top priority for the studio. Sorkin is actively meeting with talent and assembling a cast and budget package to present to Sony for greenlight approval. Meetings with Madison and White have already taken place, and development is said to be progressing quickly.
While the original Social Network, directed by David Fincher, focused on the founding of Facebook (now Meta) by Mark Zuckerberg, this new installment will examine the company’s evolution—and the consequences of its power. The film will spotlight the company’s awareness of how its platform impacted the mental health of teens, accelerated misinformation, and played a role in the events of January 6, 2021.
If negotiations proceed, Madison would portray Frances Haugen, the former Facebook data engineer who blew the whistle on the company’s internal practices and delivered her findings to both the Securities and Exchange Commission and the media. White would take on the role of Jeff Horwitz, the Wall Street Journal reporter who led the groundbreaking coverage that became known as The Facebook Files.
Sources have compared the film’s tone to journalism-driven dramas like The Insider (1999) and Spotlight (2015), both of which depicted real-world reporting that uncovered systemic wrongdoing. Sony has declined to comment on the casting or timeline.
Sorkin will also produce the film alongside Todd Black, Peter Rice, and Stuart Besser.
The original Social Network earned eight Academy Award nominations and won three, including Best Adapted Screenplay for Sorkin. Jesse Eisenberg starred as Zuckerberg in the Fincher-directed film, which chronicled Facebook’s early days and rise to global dominance.
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Madison’s role in Anora has positioned her as one of the year’s breakout talents. The film won Best Picture at the Oscars and secured her a Best Actress win, following accolades from BAFTA and other major institutions. Her previous credits include Scream (2022) and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019). She is next set to headline The Masque of the Red Death, a horror adaptation from filmmaker Charlie Polinger at A24 and Picturestart. She was also previously in talks to star in Starfighter, a Star Wars feature, though those discussions fell through over financial negotiations.
White, meanwhile, is continuing his hot streak following back-to-back Emmy wins for his performance in FX’s The Bear. Later this year, he’ll star as Bruce Springsteen in Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere, a biopic about the making of the iconic artist’s 1982 album Nebraska. That film hits theaters October 24 via 20th Century Studios.
Madison is repped by UTA, Authentic Talent and Sloane Offer. White is repped by WME and Entertainment 360.
