Bill Burr Joins Aaron Sorkin’s Sequel to The Social Network, Focusing on Facebook‘s Internal Conflicts
Comedian and actor Bill Burr has joined the cast of Aaron Sorkin’s upcoming film, a follow-up to his 2010 drama The Social Network. the project, currently untitled, will delve into the controversies surrounding Facebook – now Meta - and its awareness of the detrimental effects of its platform on users, the spread of misinformation, and its potential role in the January 6th, 2021 insurrection.
Sorkin’s new film shifts focus from the creation of Facebook to the internal reckoning within the company, as revealed in “The Facebook Files,” a trove of documents leaked by whistleblower Frances Haugen. The film’s development arrives amid ongoing scrutiny of social media’s impact on society and heightened public awareness of issues like teen mental health and political polarization. Burr’s role is described as fictionalized or an amalgamation of multiple individuals, distinguishing him from the real-life figures portrayed by other cast members.
Jeremy Allen White will portray Wall Street Journal reporter Horwitz, while Mikey Madison will play Frances Haugen, the data engineer who exposed internal research. Jeremy Strong is set to play Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.
Burr’s recent work includes his directorial debut, Old Dads, which premiered on Netflix in 2023 and became the most-watched film worldwide during its first two weeks, garnering 29.6 million views in its first ten days. He also received critical acclaim for his Broadway debut in Glengarry Glen Ross earlier this year, alongside Kieran Culkin and Bob Odenkirk. Burr is currently developing Born Losers, a film he co-wrote, will produce, and star in.
Production is scheduled to begin later this year in Vancouver, with Todd Black, Peter Rice, Sorkin, and stuart Besser producing. Burr is represented by WME, 3 Arts Entertainment, and Schreck Rose.
