Before Jesse Eisenberg refused to step back into the world of Facebook as Mark Zuckerberg for Aaron Sorkin’s “The Social Reckoning,” the director admitted that “it never occurred to him” that the actor wouldn’t be working with him in 2026 for 2010’s “The Social Network,” in which Eisenberg played a young tech billionaire.
talking with Entertainment WeeklySorkin recalled that he had “just finished a few pages” with the script for the new film when he approached Eisenberg at a party and said, ‘I’m going to send you something in a few weeks.'” Sorkin said, “The actor smiled and nodded, and I sent it.” “It never occurred to me that he wouldn’t want to do it.”
Sorkin continued by explaining that he tried to convince the “A Real Pain” actor, but he wouldn’t listen.
He said, “This is the only time I’ve written an outline myself. I don’t do it for movies, but I did it for my conversations with Jesse.” “There were these arguments as to why he should do it. They included, ‘We already know you’ll be great because you already were once.’ You know, ‘Here are the great moments that you get to play in the movie.’ And I pitched it to him.” And while Eisenberg did not sign, he told Sorkin that their conversation brought him “far closer to changing your mind than I thought you were going to change”, to which the director said he was “pleased”.
Sorkin admitted that even a larger paycheck could not sway Eisenberg. “I knew what the studio was offering him to do it, but money doesn’t motivate Jesse. It’s infuriating,” Sorkin said. “If anything, money is her disincentive. That’s admirable. She’s very concerned about raising her kids with a lot of money.”
In the lead up to the release of “The Social Reckoning,” which hits theaters on October 9, Eisenberg’s refusal to return as Zuckerberg has been a hot topic. (“Succession” actor Jeremy Strong plays the Facebook founder.) Speaking with Diversity, The actor said: “I just told [Sorkin] I’m moving in different directions in my life, and you know, what he said sums it up well. I don’t want to get attached to that character, but all my reasons for not doing the movie have nothing to do with how amazing the movie is, and will be, and I’m sure already is.
“The Social Network”, which also starred Andrew Garfield and Justin Timberlake, was nominated for eight Oscars and won three, including Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Film Editing and Best Original Score for Sorkin. Eisenberg earned an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Zuckerberg. “The Social Reckoning” features Strong, Mickey Madison, Jeremy Allen White, Billy Magnussen, Bill Burr and more.