Who will star in Aaron Sorkin‘s upcoming sequel to “The Social Network” over at Sony? THR at least knows who’s in talks for the lead roles, and it’s two of Hollywood’s hottest up-and-coming actors: “Anora” star Mikey Madison and Jeremy Allen White of “The Bear.”
But being in talks for the movie doesn’t mean any official offers to have Madison or White have been made. Insiders say Sorkin is moving fast on the project, but no formal offers have been made to either actor, or to anyone else. But THR at least know what roles the pair are up for. If she signs on, Madison will place Frances Haugen, a data engineer who became a whistleblower to the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Wall Street Journal. Meanwhile, White would play Jeff Horwitz, the former WSJ tech reporter whose articles Sorkins takes inspiration from for the sequel’s script.
And that’s what moviegoers should focus on as Sorkin preps the project: “The Social Network Part II” isn’t a direct sequel to David Fincher‘s 2010 masterwork, but instead a follow-up that focuses on the myriad negative cultural effects that steam from Facebook’s (now Meta’s) rise to social media behemoth. A source told THR that Sorkin’s vision for the film has similarities to another whistleblower thriller, Michael Mann‘s “The Insider” from 1999. Another source mentions the 2015 Oscar Best Picture-winner “Spotlight.” That’s a much different vibe than “The Social Network,” which centered primarily on Jesse Eisenberg‘s Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg.
But Sony expects Sorkin’s sequel to have the same critical and commercial success as Fincher’s film. Fifteen years on, “The Social Network” remains one of the most highly-regarded dramatic films of the 21st century, and earned eight Oscar nods, winning three. Sony and producers Sorkin, Todd Black, Peter Rice, and Stuart Besser aim to equal, if not surpass, those accolades with the new film. Would Madison and White signing on to star guarantee that success? Not necessarily, but it doesn’t hurt the project’s chances.
Madison is one of Hollywood’s fastest rising stars after her Oscar Best Actress win for “Anora” earlier this year. She’s taken her time choosing her next roles, however. Right now, she’s attached to two projects: the A24 horror pic “The Masque Of The Red Death,” based on Edgar Allan Poe‘s short story, and “Reptilia,” a Florida-set thriller with Kirsten Dunst. about the exotic animal trade. Madison was in talks this Spring to star opposite Ryan Gosling in Shawn Levy‘s “Star Wars: Starfighter” in a villain role, but she turned down Lucasfilm‘s offer.
As for White, he’ll vie for another Emmy for his work on “The Bear” Season 4. He also stars in the biopic “Springsteen: Deliver Me From Nowhere,” in theaters on October 24. Other upcoming projects include “The Mandalorian & Grogu” and “Enemies” with Austin Butler.
Madison and White joining “The Social Network 2” will make a buzzy project even buzzier, but let’s see if Sorkin indeed casts them. As for when general audiences may expect Sorkin’s film in theaters? Maybe at the end of 2026.
