“It has nothing to do with what I’m going to do,” the Succession star says about Jesse Eisenberg’s original version of the Facebook founder.
Jeremy Strong is ready to log back into the Facebook universe — but he’s not following anyone’s script but his own.
The Succession star is officially stepping into the role of Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Reckoning, Aaron Sorkin’s highly anticipated sequel to The Social Network.
The new film, set to hit theaters in October 2026, catches up with an older Zuckerberg nearly two decades after the events of the original movie — and Strong says his version will be completely different from Jesse Eisenberg’s Oscar-nominated portrayal.
At the Academy Museum Gala on Saturday night, Strong — sporting a striking red suit and noticeably lighter hair — opened up about the project. “It’s one of the great scripts I’ve ever read,” he told The Hollywood Reporter.
“It speaks to our time, it touches the third rail of everything happening in our world. It’s a great character — fascinating, complex — and I’m approaching it with great care and empathy and objectivity.”
When asked if he had spoken to Eisenberg about the role, Strong was clear: “No, I think that has nothing to do with what I’m going to do.”
The Social Reckoning centers on Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen (played by Mikey Madison) and The Bear star Jeremy Allen White as Wall Street Journal reporter Jeff Horwitz, who work together to expose the company’s most controversial secrets.
Aaron Sorkin, who wrote and won an Oscar for the 2010 original, is both writing and directing the sequel this time around. The first film, directed by David Fincher, became a cultural phenomenon, earning multiple Academy Awards and solidifying Facebook’s creation story as a modern tech legend.
Strong, who’s currently generating awards buzz for his performance in Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere, said teaming up with Sorkin again feels natural. “I’ve made two films with Aaron — The Trial of the Chicago 7 and Molly’s Game — and third time’s the charm,” he added with a smile.
With a powerhouse cast, a bold new storyline, and Strong’s fresh take on Zuckerberg, The Social Reckoning is shaping up to be one of 2026’s most talked-about releases.
What do you think — can Jeremy Strong out-Zuckerberg Jesse Eisenberg? Drop your thoughts below!
