Succession star Jeremy Strong has been confirmed to play Mark Zuckerberg in Aaron Sorkin’s upcoming sequel to The Social Network. The sequel’s title will be The Social Reckoning, with Strong taking over the role from Jesse Eisenberg, who was nominated for his portrayal of Mark Zuckerberg in the Best Actor category at the 2011 Oscars.

In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Strong discussed the differences and similarities he hopes to bring to the role. He highlighted that his performance will be entirely distinct from Jesse Eisenberg’s iconic 2010 portrayal. Strong emphasized that “Jesse’s version has nothing to do with what I’m going to do,” clearly indicating that he plans to build his own interpretation of Zuckerberg rather than continue or recreate Eisenberg’s characterization.

Aaron Sorkin, who won an Oscar for writing the first film, will once again be taking on writing and directing duties. Plot details are still under wraps; however, some information has been revealed. The sequel will be set seventeen years after the events of the original Social Network and will center around the fallout from the Facebook Files — specifically, the internal company documents released in 2021 that revealed troubling details about the platform’s influence on teenagers, misinformation, and global politics. Sorkin has described the film as one of the most timely stories of the modern age. Strong echoed that sentiment, calling the script “one of the best I’ve ever read” and “touching the third rail of everything happening in our world right now.”

In the interview, Strong also explained that he hasn’t reached out to Eisenberg for advice or comparison. He said that his preparation involves “care and empathy and objectivity.” Eisenberg’s Zuckerberg was an emotionally distant yet brilliant character who often crossed moral lines to build his empire. In contrast, Strong aims to deliver a more introspective and humanized portrayal of Zuckerberg. The Social Reckoning aims to shift its focus from Facebook’s creation to the platform’s impact on humanity, both positive and negative, while exploring how it has reshaped social media and influenced modern political dynamics. Sony Pictures has confirmed that The Social Reckoning will hit theaters on October 9, 2026.