The highly anticipated sequel to the 2010 film The Social Network has been officially announced, titled The Social Reckoning, with a scheduled release date of October 9, 2026. Sony Pictures will distribute the film. Aaron Sorkin, who won an Academy Award for his screenplay for the original film, will return as both writer and director.
The Social Reckoning is described as a "companion piece" to The Social Network. While the first film chronicled the rise of Facebook and its founders, the sequel will focus on the controversies and fallout that occurred nearly two decades after the platform's inception. The plot will center around Frances Haugen, a Facebook engineer who leaked internal documents revealing the company's awareness of the harmful effects of its platforms. These documents, known as "The Facebook Files," exposed the company's role in spreading misinformation and its negative impact on teenagers. The film will depict Haugen's collaboration with Jeff Horwitz, a Wall Street Journal reporter, to bring these issues to light.
Jeremy Strong will portray Mark Zuckerberg, succeeding Jesse Eisenberg, who earned an Oscar nomination for his portrayal in the original film. Mikey Madison will play Frances Haugen, and Jeremy Allen White will star as Jeff Horwitz. Bill Burr has also been cast in an undisclosed role.
Production for The Social Reckoning is set to begin next month. The film's release date in early October positions it as a potential contender for the next awards season. The Social Network, released in October 2010, was a critical and commercial success, earning $226 million globally and winning three Academy Awards, including Best Adapted Screenplay for Sorkin.
Sorkin has stated that he was inspired to write the sequel after the attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2020, which he partly blames on Facebook's role in spreading divisive content. He expressed interest in examining Facebook's algorithm and its tendency to promote the most divisive material to increase engagement.
The Social Reckoning will face competition at the box office, with The Legend of Aang: The Last Airbender and the Jessica Chastain horror film Other Mommy also scheduled for release on the same date.
