Aaron Sorkin Talks Jesse Eisenberg Not Returning As Mark Zuckerberg In "The Social Reckoning"
Updated: Oct 14
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Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin (The West Wing) is talking with Entertainment Weekly about how he failed to get Jesse Eisenberg to return to the role of Mark Zuckerberg from 'The Social Network,' which Sorkin won the Oscar for, in the upcoming sequel 'The Social Reckoning.'
"I knew what the studio was offering him to do it, but money does not motivate Jesse. It’s infuriating. If anything, money is a disincentive for him. It’s admirable. He’s very concerned about raising his kids with too much money."
Sorkin said, "I wrote a list of all the things he could do with the money, like he could produce X number of Broadway plays of his own. When I was just a couple of pages from being done I ran into the actor at a party and said, ‘I’m gonna be sending you something in a couple of weeks.’ And he smiled and nodded, and I sent it to him. It never occurred to me that he wouldn’t wanna do it."
Sorkin tried over a three-day weekend to change his mind. "This is the only time I’ve written myself an outline. I don’t do it for the movies, but I did it for my conversations with Jesse. It was arguments for why he should do it. They included, ‘We already know you’re gonna be great because you were already once.’ You know, ‘Here are the great moments that you’re gonna get to play in the movie.’ And I laid it out for him."
"I do remember Jesse saying at one point during the third or fourth back and forth, ‘You have come closer to changing my mind than I thought you were going to.’ So I was pleased about that. He just doesn’t like being conflated with Mark Zuckerberg anymore. He doesn’t like that he kinda resembles the guy physically; that role is probably what he’s most known for."
Jeremy Strong (Succession) stepped in for the role, which also stars Jeremy Allen White (Shameless) and Mikey Madison (Once Upon A Time In Hollywood). The film will be released on October 9th.
Are you sad Eisenberg didn't return for 'The Social Reckoning?' Comment below with your thoughts.
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Written By: Dan Lalonde
Photo Credit: Columbia Pictures
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