Sony/HBOThe Social Network 2 is officially happening, under the title The Social Reckoning. But Jesse Eisenberg is not on board, raising the biggest question surrounding the upcoming movie: who will play Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg? Now we have an answer.
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.
Does The Social Network 2 have a release date?
SonyYes, we now know that The Social Network 2 will release in theaters on October 9, 2026.
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.
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When the release date was announced, the upcoming film’s title was also revealed to be The Social Reckoning.
Will Jesse Eisenberg return as Mark Zuckerberg?
No, Eisenberg, who was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of Zuckerberg, will not be reprising his role as the CEO of Facebook, now known as Meta. In his place, Succession icon Jeremy Armstrong will be playing the tech billionaire.
After reports surfaced that Eisenberg wouldn’t be returning, speculation quickly turned to who would play Zuckerberg next, with Strong being the frontrunner. In an October 2025 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the Succession star opened up about his portrayal.
When asked if he’d spoken to Eisenberg, Strong replied, “No, I think that has nothing to do with what I’m going to do.”
If that makes you feel apprehensive, Strong reassured fans that the sequel has an incredible story. “It’s one of the great scripts I’ve ever read,” he said.
“It speaks to our time, it touches the third rail of everything happening in our world. It’s a great character – fascinating, complex – and I’m approaching it with great care and empathy and objectivity.”
The Social Reckoning cast
HuluAlongside Jeremy Strong as Mark Zuckerberg, Deadline reported on September 26, 2025 that Anora star Mikey Madison has been cast as whistleblower Frances Haugen.
Haugen is the data engineer-turned-whistleblower who disclosed Facebook’s internal documents to the Securities and Exchange Commission and The Wall Street Journal in 2021.
Additionally, The Bear star Jeremy Allen White is playing Jeff Horwitz, the former technology reporter for The Wall Street Journal who broke the Facebook Files stories.
Comedian Bill Burr has also joined The Social Reckoning cast, although character details are being kept under wraps. The same goes for Sinners star Wunmi Mosaku, who joined the lineup this month.
The Social Network 2 plot
Creative CommonsAs 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. It’s set to take place 17 years after the first movie.
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 Reckoning, 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.
We’ll be sure to keep this space updated as and when new details emerge.
In the meantime, check out the best movies of 2025 so far, the films to stream this month, and keep tabs on all new releases with our 2025 movie calendar.