Back
Entertainment

Sony Pictures to Release 'The Social Reckoning' in October, Focusing on Facebook Whistleblower Revelations

Generated on: Last updated: 4 sources
View source

Sony Pictures Unveils Trailer for 'The Social Reckoning,' Companion to 'The Social Network'

Sony Pictures has released the first official trailer for "The Social Reckoning," a companion film to the 2010 movie "The Social Network." The film is scheduled for a theatrical release on October 9. Aaron Sorkin wrote and directed the project.

Plot Overview

The film dramatizes the 2021 leak of internal Meta documents facilitated by former Facebook engineer Frances Haugen. It follows Haugen's collaboration with Wall Street Journal reporter Jeff Horwitz, whose investigative series "The Facebook Files" exposed the company's internal research and decision-making regarding issues such as harmful effects on teenagers and the spread of misinformation.

The trailer includes Haugen (played by Mikey Madison) saying: "I am here to help Facebook, not hurt it."

Strong's Zuckerberg states: "People understand that when I say no, that's the end of the debate."

The story is set 17 years after the events of "The Social Network," which depicted Facebook's founding and subsequent lawsuits.

Cast

  • Mikey Madison as Frances Haugen, a former Facebook engineer
  • Jeremy Allen White as Jeff Horwitz, Wall Street Journal reporter
  • Jeremy Strong as Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook co-founder
  • Bill Burr
  • Billy Magnussen
  • Wunmi Mosaku
  • Betty Gilpin

Casting Background

Sorkin originally wanted Jesse Eisenberg, who portrayed Zuckerberg in "The Social Network," to reprise the role. Eisenberg declined, stating in a 2024 BBC Radio 4 interview that he did not want to be associated with Zuckerberg, citing actions such as removing fact-checking and safety measures. Jeremy Strong was subsequently cast after expressing interest.

Production and Distribution

  • Director and Screenwriter: Aaron Sorkin
  • Producers: Aaron Sorkin, Todd Black, Peter Rice, and Stuart M. Besser
  • Distributor: Sony Pictures

This is Sorkin's first directorial feature since "Being the Ricardos" (2021) and "The Trial of the Chicago 7" (2020).

Background and Context

"The Social Network" (2010), directed by David Fincher, grossed $226 million worldwide and received eight Academy Award nominations, winning three including Best Adapted Screenplay for Sorkin. The original film was based on the book "The Accidental Billionaires" by Ben Mezrich; the new film is not based on that book.

Sorkin described the new film during CinemaCon as "a real David and Goliath story."

He also stated that Facebook's influence "has reshaped everything" since the first film.