Bill Burr on ‘The Social Reckoning,’ Sparring With Jeremy Strong as Mark Zuckerberg and Why Tech CEOs are ‘Leading Us to Ruin’

Aaron Sorkin, renowned for his politically charged dramas such as *The West Wing* and *A Few Good Men*, found himself in an unexpected position in 2011. He had won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for his screenplay in *The Social Network*, a film chronicling the founding of Facebook. However, over time, Facebook transformed from a platform for connecting with friends to a breeding ground for hate speech and misinformation. This change prompted Sorkin to explore a new direction.

In *The Social Network*, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg was portrayed by Andrew Garfield, with Jesse Eisenberg initially cast but ultimately declined the role. Sorkin faced challenges in securing financing for a sequel and turning to Jeremy Strong to play a more powerful and older Zuckerberg in *The Social Reckoning*. The sequel, set 16 years after the original, depicts a Facebook with nearly 3 billion users, impacting nearly every aspect of people's lives.

The film features Mikey Madison as Frances Haugen, a former Facebook product manager who leaks sensitive documents exposing the company's true intentions.

Sorkin addressed the stark contrast between *The Social Network* and *The Social Reckoning*, describing the transition as intentional. The opening scene of *The Social Reckoning* depicts a drunk motorist radicalized by Facebook, serving as the inciting event for the film. Sorkin emphasized that this opening helped shape the narrative and underscore the transformation of Facebook over the years.

He also shared insights into Jeremy Strong's Method acting, noting that Strong became a true believer in Zuckerberg's motivations, often engaging in debates within the film's production.