Jeremy Strong Tipped to Star as Zuckerberg in New Social Network Sequel
Jeremy Strong could be stepping into the shoes of one of Silicon Valley’s most controversial figures.
The Succession actor, who captivated audiences as the brooding and unpredictable Kendall Roy, is reportedly the top contender to portray Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg in Aaron Sorkin’s anticipated sequel to The Social Network.
Sorkin, who won an Academy Award for his original 2010 screenplay, confirmed in June that he’s penning a follow-up film.
This new chapter will centre around The Facebook Files, an explosive investigative series by The Wall Street Journal that exposed internal practices at the social media giant.
While casting remains unconfirmed, multiple industry insiders suggest Strong is Sorkin’s preferred choice for the lead role. “No formal offers have been made yet,” sources told Deadline.
In the 2010 film directed by David Fincher, Jesse Eisenberg portrayed Zuckerberg, while Andrew Garfield played Eduardo Saverin, Facebook’s co-founder.
This sequel appears set to take a darker turn. Oscar-winner Mikey Madison is being speculated to play whistleblower Frances Haugen, the former employee who leaked internal documents to The Wall Street Journal.
Jeremy Allen White is reportedly in line to play journalist Jeff Horwitz, the investigative writer behind The Facebook Files.
Strong’s possible involvement has sparked excitement and curiosity among fans and critics alike, especially given his knack for embodying complex, morally ambiguous characters.
Last year, Sorkin hinted that the upcoming film wouldn’t simply be a continuation. “I blame Facebook for January 6,” he declared on The Town podcast, referencing the Capitol riots.
When pressed about how the new film would address Facebook’s role in the events surrounding the insurrection, he teased: “You’re gonna need to buy a movie ticket.”
Sorkin expanded on Facebook’s role in fostering division. “Facebook has been, among other things, tuning its algorithm to promote the most divisive material possible…
There’s supposed to be a constant tension at Facebook between growth and integrity. There isn’t; there’s just growth.”
Though Zuckerberg hasn’t commented directly on the sequel, he has previously voiced discomfort with the original film’s portrayal of him.
“It was weird, man… They got all these concrete details of what I was wearing… but then the whole narrative around my motivations… was completely wrong,” he told The Colin and Samir Show.
Jeremy Strong, no stranger to awards season, was most recently seen in The Apprentice, playing Roy Cohn, a controversial mentor figure to Donald Trump.
The sequel remains in early stages, with no official announcements regarding production or release timelines. Still, the idea of Strong channelling Zuckerberg has already ignited conversations across Hollywood and beyond.
One thing’s clear: this isn’t just another Silicon Valley tale, it’s shaping up to be a fierce indictment of the power and consequences behind the algorithm.
