Jeremy Strong Wrote to Zuckerberg Before 'The Social Reckoning'; Learn More

A new behind-the-scenes tidbit about The Social Reckoning, the sequel to The Social Network, reveals how Jeremy Strong prepared to play Mark Zuckerberg - including the fact that he had direct contact with the mogul. In an interview with GQ, the actor spoke about being cast after Jesse Eisenberg dropped out and said he made a point of writing to Facebook’s CEO.

Strong explained: “I wrote to him—I’m probably going to give Sony an aneurysm—I sent him an email,” he added. “Just to say that I take this responsibility very seriously, and the veracity of it seriously, and I’m approaching it with respect.”

Playing Zuckerberg is exactly the kind of challenge that fascinates him. For the actor, taking on the personality of someone so well known requires fully surrendering to the character without starting from any preconceived intention to judge him. “The dangers of this couldn’t be greater. Committing to it and being free within the role is a great challenge,” he said.

Although he acknowledges that Zuckerberg is a figure “reviled and unpopular” in today’s culture, Strong said he does not believe an actor should portray him with the goal of condemning him.

The preparation for the role was equally intense. According to GQ, Strong sought to get to know the businessman in different contexts, consuming podcasts, interviews, lectures, and appearances at tech events.

The actor also watched Zuckerberg’s testimony before Congress until, according to the magazine itself, “his eyes popped out of their sockets,” in an attempt to understand his way of speaking and behaving.

Since he does not usually use social media, Strong even created a Facebook account exclusively to study Zuckerberg’s old posts. The idea was to follow the businessman’s evolution over the years and understand his transformation between The Social Network and The Social Reckoning, arriving at the image of a “wartime CEO” described by the magazine.

Everything you need to know about The Social Reckoning

The plot follows former Facebook employee Frances Haugen, played by Mikey Madison, and journalist Jeff Horwitz, portrayed by Jeremy Allen White, who were responsible for exposing the company’s internal documents.

The revelations gave rise to the investigation known as the Facebook Files, published by the Wall Street Journal in 2021. The documents pointed to the company’s internal concerns about the platform’s impact on teenagers’ mental health, in addition to the spread of misinformation and content related to political violence.

The project marks Aaron Sorkin’s return to the franchise, with him serving as both writer and director. During CinemaCon, Sorkin explained that he decided to return to the subject because “there isn’t a life that hasn’t been touched by Facebook’s algorithm.”

The cast also includes Bill Burr. 

Released in 2010, The Social Network grossed more than $226 million worldwide, won three Oscars, and became one of the most influential productions ever made about the tech industry.

The Social Reckoning opens in theaters on October 9.