Aaron Sorkin thinks it’s time for a Social Network sequel

Almost a decade has gone by since David Fincher’s THE SOCIAL NETWORK hit theaters, and in that time a lot has changed with Facebook and the internet age. So much is different now that writer Aaron Sorkin (who won an Oscar for his work) thinks it’s about time for a sequel to provide new insight into the goings-on behind the scenes. While doing a sequel to an acclaimed drama sounds like a hard pass for many, Sorkin makes a solid point about doing a sequel to a movie about Facebook all these years later.

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In the decade since SOCIAL NETWORK came out Facebook has integrated itself into our lives beyond what anyone imagined, causing even more social media platforms to launch and become almost just as popular. However, despite its immense growth, Sorkin said during a recent interview with the Associated Press that he knows less about the tech company now than he back in its earliest days, and that’s interesting material for a follow-up movie.

First of all, I know a lot more about Facebook in 2005 than I do in 2018, but I know enough to know that there should be a sequel. A lot of very interesting, dramatic stuff has happened since the movie ends with settling the lawsuit from the Winklevoss Twins and Eduardo Saverin.”

Apparently, Sorkin isn’t the only one keen on doing a sequel, and he revealed producer Scott Rudin has been emailing him about the prospect of another movie on the regular. “I’ve gotten more than one email from [Rudin] with an article attached saying, ‘Isn’t it time for a sequel?’” he said.

Facebook has been in really hot water over the last year – and really since the 2016 election – after it was determined trolls and bots used the platform to distribute false news stories and misinformation. On top of that, Facebook admitted that millions of profiles were the subject of illegal data mining involving the political consultancy firm Cambridge Analytica, leading many to question what Facebook is doing with the information they post onto the platform. As a result, the company and founder Mark Zuckerberg have had to do some serious PR work, updating privacy materials and assuring users they will be more transparent in the future.

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The story of THE SOCIAL NETWORK focused on Zuckerberg (played by Jesse Eisenberg) and the formation of Facebook with friend Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield), and how he ruined his personal relationships along the way. One of the first tremendous films of the new decade, the movie won several Oscars and has remained a timeless classic many years later. That all makes for a rich re-examination of the social media empire, and though sequels to dramas like this aren’t too common Sorkin is right in thinking enough has changed to warrant going back in for a new story.

Now, the odds of this actually happening are very small, as everyone from the cast, Fincher himself, and even Oscar-winning composers Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross would have to be on board in order for people to get behind it. Though everyone involved was likely thrilled with the results the first time around, who knows if they’ll be on board for more. But the story and the drama are certainly there, so who knows, maybe its time the gang got back together.