The Social Network is officially getting a follow-up — and Aaron Sorkin is finally ready to press “log in.” See, we’re down with the tech jargon. After more than a decade of speculation, The Social Network Part II is now in development at Sony Pictures, with Sorkin set to direct from his own screenplay. While it’s being billed as a “Part II,” this isn’t your typical legacy sequel — insiders say it’s more of a thematic continuation than a direct narrative extension. But make no mistake: this is the sequel many thought would never happen. Now, what could it be about?

The original Social Network, directed by David Fincher and starring Jesse Eisenberg as Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, was a critical and commercial juggernaut. Released in 2010, the film earned eight Oscar nominations — including Best Picture — and won three, with Sorkin taking home Best Adapted Screenplay. It also holds a 96% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes and remains one of the most talked-about biopics of the 21st century.

For years, Sorkin toyed with the idea of returning to the world of Facebook, especially as the real-world controversies surrounding the platform piled up. It wasn’t until The Wall Street Journal’s Facebook Files series in 2021 — a damning exposé on the internal chaos, manipulation, and harm linked to the platform — that inspiration finally struck.

Now, The Social Network Part II will tackle the darker aftermath of social media’s global dominance, including its effects on teens, international politics, and misinformation. While the events of January 6, 2020 helped spark renewed interest for Sorkin, sources stress this is not a “January 6 movie.” Instead, the film will explore how the tech giant’s reach and influence have spiraled into something far more complex — and in many cases, destructive — than anyone imagined in 2010. Whether the movie also takes the time to approach how Facebook is responsible for a generation of aunts and uncles who share low-res Minions memes to represent their political stances remains to be seen.

Unlike the first film, which was directed by Fincher, Sorkin himself will direct this installment. After sharpening his filmmaking chops on Molly’s Game, The Trial of the Chicago 7, and Being the Ricardos, Sorkin is now ready to helm what might be the most anticipated project of his career. But what of Eisenberg? That’s the billion-dollar question. While it’s still unclear how central Mark Zuckerberg will be to the story, insiders say it would be nearly impossible to make another movie about Facebook without some version of the character, and our gut tells us he’ll be back.

via Collider