The Social Network 2 Snags A True Detective Standout As The Cast Rapidly Expands
Aaron Sorkin is supercharging The Social Network 2, adding a True Detective star and other high-profile names as production accelerates, with the sequel set to revisit Big Tech’s power, accountability, and a real-life whistleblower saga.
Yes, Aaron Sorkin is actually making a follow-up to The Social Network. It is called The Social Reckoning (unofficially, The Social Network 2), production is picking up, and the cast just got a big bump.
Who just joined
Deadline says Billy Magnussen, Betty Gilpin, Gbenga Akinnagbe, and Anna Lambe have boarded The Social Reckoning, Sony's continuation of Sorkin's Facebook saga. They slot into an ensemble that already includes Mikey Madison, Jeremy Allen White, Jeremy Strong, Bill Burr, and Wunmi Mosaku. No character details yet for the four new additions, which is very on-brand for a Sorkin project coming together at speed.
What this one is about
The story centers on Frances Haugen (played by Mikey Madison), the Facebook engineer who became a whistleblower, and her work with Wall Street Journal reporter Jeff Horwitz (Jeremy Allen White) to expose the company’s hidden operations. Jeremy Strong is stepping in as Mark Zuckerberg, taking over the role Jesse Eisenberg originated. That recasting alone is going to spark opinions, but it tells you Sorkin is not just doing a victory lap; he is taking a fresh swing.
Described as a 'companion piece' to The Social Network
Expect Sorkin to go back to his favorite aisle of the store: technology, ethics, and accountability — with the focus squarely on how Facebook’s power looks when someone on the inside decides to push back.
Behind the camera and release plan
Sorkin wrote and is directing this one himself. Sony has it set for a theatrical release on October 9, 2026. Producers are Todd Black, Peter Rice, Aaron Sorkin, and Stuart Besser.
The new faces, at a glance
- Billy Magnussen: No Time to Die, Game Night; recently in Disney's Lilo & Stitch and The Franchise.
- Betty Gilpin: Three-time Emmy nominee for GLOW; coming up in Netflix's Death by Lightning with Michael Shannon and Office Romance with Jennifer Lopez.
- Gbenga Akinnagbe: The Wire, The Deuce; most recently in A House of Dynamite and appeared in The Old Man.
- Anna Lambe: Stars in North of North, appeared in True Detective: Night Country; recently filmed Heart of the Beast with Brad Pitt and J.K. Simmons.
Bottom line: The Social Reckoning is not a retread. It is Sorkin reentering the Facebook universe with a new lens — the whistleblower who tried to pull the fire alarm — and a loaded cast to match.