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Mikey Madison Eyed for ‘Social Network’ Follow-Up
(Left) Mikey Madison accepts the Oscar® for Actress in a Leading Role during the live ABC Telecast of the 97th Oscars® at the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood on Sunday, March 2, 2025. Credit/Provider: Trae Patton / The Academy. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S. (Right) Male Actor in a Comedy Series, Jeremy Allen White, ‘The Bear’ 30th Screen Actors Guild Awards, Show, Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California, USA – 24 Feb 2024. Credit: Photo by Christopher Polk/Shutterstock for SAG.

Preview:
- Jeremy Allen White and Mikey Madison are the top choices for ‘The Social Network II”.
- Aaron Sorkin is writing and directing the follow-up.
- It’s not a direct sequel to the 2010 David Fincher Oscar winner, but continues focusing on Facebook.
Around a month ago, we learned that, after fiddling with ideas for a while, Aaron Sorkin had come up with a way to follow up 2010’s ‘The Social Network’, which won three Oscars, including one for Sorkin’s screenplay, and chronicled the difficult birth of Facebook.

Now, with the result widespread (and one of the key players in social media harm), Sorkin is developing ‘The Social Network II’ –– not a direct sequel, but instead something peeling back the layers of Facebook and its parent company Meta.
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According to Deadline, Sorkin and Sony are confident in the material to begin putting out feelers to actors, with white-hot names Jeremy Allen White (a multiple award winner for ‘The Bear’) and ‘Anora’ Oscar winner Mikey Madison at the top of the list.

No formal offers have been made to either actor, so watch this space to see if they do jump aboard.

The Hollywood Reporter has learned that, assuming their deals close, Madison would be Frances Haugen, the data engineer-turned-whistleblower who went to the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Wall Street Journal with her information. White would play the former WSJ tech reporter who leads the breaking of the Facebook files.

And that’s not all… Jeremy Strong is also reportedly under consideration, and might end up playing debated Facebook creator (and current boss) Mark Zuckerberg this time around, replacing Jesse Eisenberg.

Related Article: Aaron Sorkin Ready to Write and Direct ‘The Social Network Part II’

What was the story of ‘The Social Network’?

(L to R) Andrew Garfield and Jesse Eisenberg in ‘The Social Network’. Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing.

The 2010 original, which as mentioned had David Fincher calling the shots, looked at the difficult evolution of Facebook from college ranking system created –– again, there’s debate as the movie suggests –– by Zuckerberg, played there by Eisenberg.

‘The Social Network’ charts Zuckerberg and his system’s rise to ubiquity and the people who ended up suing for their share of the profits, including the Winklevoss twins and old college friend Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield).

A huge hit with audiences and critics, it earned $226 million at the global box office.

What has Aaron Sorkin said about a ‘Social Network’ follow-up?

Jesse Eisenberg in ‘The Social Network’. Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing.

Talking on a live edition of ‘The Town’ Podcast, Sorkin announced that his concern regarding how Facebook’s system has poisoned politics on the personal and national level led him to start work on a new script, which while not a direct sequel to ‘The Social Network’, would follow up on the low-key fears that were subtextual in the original.

Here’s what Sorkin told hosts Matthew Belloni and Peter Hamby:

“Look, yeah, I’ll be writing about this. I blame Facebook for January 6. Facebook has been, among other things, tuning its algorithm to promote the most divisive material possible. Because that is what will increase engagement. That is what will get you to — what they call inside the hallways of Facebook — ‘the infinite scroll’ … There’s supposed to be a constant tension at Facebook between growth and integrity. There isn’t. There’s just growth. If Mark Zuckerberg woke up tomorrow morning and realized there is nothing you can buy for $120 billion that you can’t buy for $119 billion dollars, ‘So how about if I make a little bit less money? I will tune up integrity and tune down growth.’ Yes, you can do that by switching a one to a zero.”

Asked what exactly he’d be focused on, he told the audience that they’d have to buy a movie ticket to find that out.

We do know a little more now, though: Sorkin’s screenplay for the new movie explores the story behind the Wall Street Journal‘s ‘The Facebook Files’, an explosive series of articles published in October 2021 that exposed the inner workings of — and multiple harms caused by — the world’s largest social network.

When will ‘The Social Network II’ be on screens?

Sony has yet to confirm a release date for the new movie.

Aaron Sorkin attends the Academy’s 7th Annual Governors Awards in The Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, CA, on Saturday, November 14, 2015. Credit/Provider: Matt Petit / ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.

List of Aaron Sorkin Movies and TV Shows:
- ‘A Few Good Men‘ (1992)
- ‘Malice‘ (1993)
- ‘The American President‘ (1995)
- ‘Sports Night‘ (1998 – 2000)
- ‘The West Wing‘ (1999 – 2006)
- ‘Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip‘ (2006 – 2007)
- ‘Charlie Wilson’s War‘ (2007)
- ‘The Social Network‘ (2010)
- ‘Moneyball‘ (2011)
- ‘The Newsroom‘ (2012 – 2014)
- ‘Steve Jobs‘ (2015)
- ‘Molly’s Game‘ (2017)
- ‘The Trial of the Chicago 7‘ (2020)
- ‘Being the Ricardos‘ (2021)
Buy Aaron Sorkin Movies on Amazon
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July 31, 2025
Aaron Sorkin Making ‘The Social Network’ Follow-Up
Aaron Sorkin attends the Academy’s 7th Annual Governors Awards in The Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, CA, on Saturday, November 14, 2015. Credit/Provider: Matt Petit / ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.

Preview:
- Aaron Sorkin will write and direct a follow-up to ‘The Social Network’.
- It’s not a direct sequel to the 2010 David Fincher Oscar winner.
- Sony is once again backing the movie.
Back in 2010, ‘The Social Network’ made a big impact on movies and society in general. It charted the controversial rise of Facebook and the even more dicey story of creator –– there’s still debate about that –– Mark Zuckerberg, who continues to be a divisive figure.

That movie earned plenty of praise and awards (more on that below), and now a follow-up is in the works.
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Unlike the original, which had director David Fincher overseeing it, this time writer Aaron Sorkin is looking to pull double duty, with Deadline reporting that he hit upon a new concept after looking into the social media platform’s impact on politics and society, and being inspired by a series of articles in the Wall Street Journal.

Sony, which released the original movie, is on board for this one.

Related Article: Aaron Sorkin Looking to Make a Movie About Facebook’s Social Impact

What was the story of ‘The Social Network’?

(L to R) Andrew Garfield and Jesse Eisenberg in ‘The Social Network’. Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing.

The 2010 original, which as mentioned had David Fincher calling the shots, looked at the difficult evolution of Facebook from college ranking system created –– again, there’s debate as the movie suggests –– by Mark Zuckerberg, played there by Jesse Eisenberg.

‘The Social Network’ charts Zuckerberg and his system’s rise to ubiquity and the people who ended up suing for their share of the profits, including the Winklevoss twins and old college friend Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield).

As the famous poster tagline from the movie suggests, “you don’t get to 500 million friends without making a few enemies”.

A huge hit with audiences and critics, it earned $226 million at the global box office. Nominated for eight Oscars including Best Picture, the movie won three, including Sorkin for Best Adapted Screenplay.

What has Aaron Sorkin said about a ‘Social Network’ follow-up?

Jesse Eisenberg in ‘The Social Network’. Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing.

Talking on a live edition of ‘The Town’ Podcast, Sorkin announced that his concern regarding how Facebook’s system has poisoned politics on the personal and national level led him to start work on a new script, which while not a direct sequel to ‘The Social Network’, would follow up on the low-key fears that were subtextual in the original.

Here’s what Sorkin told hosts Matthew Belloni and Peter Hamby:

“Look, yeah, I’ll be writing about this. I blame Facebook for January 6. Facebook has been, among other things, tuning its algorithm to promote the most divisive material possible. Because that is what will increase engagement. That is what will get you to — what they call inside the hallways of Facebook — ‘the infinite scroll’ … There’s supposed to be a constant tension at Facebook between growth and integrity. There isn’t. There’s just growth. If Mark Zuckerberg woke up tomorrow morning and realized there is nothing you can buy for $120 billion that you can’t buy for $119 billion dollars, ‘So how about if I make a little bit less money? I will tune up integrity and tune down growth.’ Yes, you can do that by switching a one to a zero.”

Asked what exactly he’d be focused on, he told the audience that they’d have to buy a movie ticket to find that out.

We do know a little more now, though: Sorkin’s screenplay for the new movie explores the story behind the Wall Street Journal‘s ‘The Facebook Files’, an explosive series of articles published in October 2021 that exposed the inner workings of — and multiple harms caused by — the world’s largest social network.

Deadline’s sources stress that the new film isn’t strictly a “January 6” movie and will focus not just on the 2020 election but also Facebook’s effect on teens, preteens, violence and countries outside the U.S.

Since the original’s release, Sorkin has made a name for himself as a director, bringing to screens movies such as ‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’, ‘Molly’s Game’ and ‘Being the Ricardos’.

While we doubt he’ll look to emulate the style and intensity that Fincher brought to the first film, chances are he’ll find a way to make the new one interesting in its own way.

When will ‘The Social Network II’ be on screens?

Jesse Eisenberg in ‘The Social Network’. Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing.

Since Sorkin has the script apparently in hand, we may well see this one ramp up quickly –– there’s no production date in place yet, but the main deals for Sorkin and producers Todd Black, Peter Rice and Stuart Besser are locked down.

The writer/director will start gathering an ensemble for the movie soon and you know this will attract all sorts of established names and rising stars. A bigger question might be whether Jesse Eisenberg will be lured back to play Zuckerberg again, even if it’s in a much reduced capacity. We’ll have to wait and see on that one.

(L to R) Justin Timberlake and Jesse Eisenberg in ‘The Social Network’. Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing.

Other Aaron Sorkin Movies:
- ‘A Few Good Men‘ (1992)
- ‘Malice‘ (1993)
- ‘The American President‘ (1995)
- ‘Charlie Wilson’s War‘ (2007)
- ‘The Social Network‘ (2010)
- ‘Moneyball‘ (2011)
- ‘Steve Jobs‘ (2015)
- ‘Molly’s Game‘ (2017)
- ‘The Trial of the Chicago 7‘ (2020)
- ‘Being the Ricardos‘ (2021)
Buy Aaron Sorkin Movies on Amazon
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June 26, 2025
Movie Review: ‘A Real Pain’
(L to R) Kieran Culkin and Jesse Eisenberg in ‘A Real Pain’. Photo Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures, © 2024 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.

Opening in theaters November 1st is ‘A Real Pain,’ directed by Jesse Eisenberg and starring Jesse Eisenberg, Kieran Culkin, Will Sharpe, Jennifer Grey, Kurt Egyiawan, Liza Sadovy, and Daniel Oreskes.

Related Article: Jessie Eisenberg and Claire Danes Talk FX’s ‘Fleishman Is in Trouble’

Initial Thoughts

(L to R) Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin in ‘A Real Pain’. Photo Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures, © 2024 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.

Jesse Eisenberg has long been an acquired taste as an actor, but as a director, his second feature, ‘A Real Pain,’ shows tremendous growth from his 2022 debut behind the camera, ‘When You Finish Saving the World.’ While that film felt incomplete and abrasive in ways, ‘A Real Pain’ brings tremendous emotional sensitivity and a more focused wit to the story of two cousins traveling together to the land of their family’s heritage, and the issues that journey brings up.

Eisenberg also wrote and stars in the picture as the more grounded of the two characters, but the showcase performance is undoubtedly that of Kieran Culkin, who comes off his incredible run on ‘Succession’ to create a character here that is complex, irritating, endearing, and deeply wounded. ‘A Real Pain’ seems deceptively modest at first, but is a powerfully funny and poignant look at family, loneliness, depression, and heritage.

Story and Direction

(L to R) Jesse Eisenberg and Kieran Culkin on the set of ‘A Real Pain’. Photo by Agata Grzybowska, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures, © 2024 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.

David (Jesse Eisenberg) and Benji (Kieran Culkin) are cousins who were super-tight as kids but have drifted apart as adults. David is married, with a child and a solid but unglamorous job in tech, and anxiety-ridden. Benji is much looser, and living in what could best be described as a state of arrested development, although there’s ultimately more to it than that.

The two, who haven’t seen each other in years, meet at the airport for a flight to Poland, where they will tour both sites related to their family and the Holocaust thanks to money left to them by their late, beloved grandmother. From the start, Benji is much more devil-may-care, even smuggling weed aboard an international flight to David’s horror. Once they get to Poland and meet up with the rest of their tour group, Benji’s free-spiritedness manifests itself even more in ways both charming and exasperating, both to David and the group.

Jesse Eisenberg on the set of ‘A Real Pain’. Photo by Agata Grzybowska, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures, © 2024 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.

Whether it’s berating the cerebral tour guide James (Will Sharpe) for not exhibiting more emotion at the sites they visit, or abruptly deciding not to sit in the paid-for first class section of the train (because of a sudden interest in human rights), or having the group enact a battle scene at a memorial in the middle of a park, Benji dominates the tour with his outsized personality and antics. That sets him at odds with the more reserved David, who struggles with issues of his own and is often embarrassed at his cousin’s behavior. But as more of their family history comes to light, the double meaning of the movie’s title emerges as well: yes, Benji is a real pain, but he’s also dealing with the real pain of mental illness, which has led him to some dark places that he and David must confront.

But while that sounds grim – and the movie does feature some heavy emotional moments – much of ‘A Real Pain’ is scathingly funny, again thanks to Benji’s interactions with the tour group and the world around him. It’s a tonal balancing act managed beautifully by Eisenberg’s sharp script and unfussy direction, and given resonance by a series of locations both lovely and somber in Poland, shot magnificently by Michel Dymek. In one particularly haunting sequence, the group travels through some lush countryside only to arrive at the real Majdanek concentration camp, the setting for one of the movie’s most quietly and almost overwhelmingly powerful scenes.

The Cast

(L to R) Will Sharpe and Jesse Eisenberg in ‘A Real Pain’. Photo Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures, © 2024 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.

As we noted above, Jesse Eisenberg as an actor is not always everybody’s cup of tea: he’s specialized throughout his career I twitchy, neurotic, highly intellectual characters who often can’t see past their own anxieties. But following his nuanced work on the ‘Fleishman is in Trouble’ miniseries, Eisenberg here brings more gravitas and even playfulness to the role of David, who may not possess the same free spirit as his cousin but is working hard to be content with who he is.

Yet Eisenberg generously cedes the spotlight to his sparring partner Culkin, who just dominates the proceedings throughout the movie. His Benji is at first righteous, arrogantly self-confident, casually careless, and determined to push people’s buttons. But that hides a far deeper pain embedded in his very soul, which Culkin brings out masterfully as he slowly peels away Benji’s bravado and lets us see the frightened boy inside. It’s a masterful performance from an actor who’s truly coming into his own, effortlessly turning our exasperation with Benji into empathy and compassion.

Jennifer Grey in ‘A Real Pain’. Photo Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures, © 2024 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.

The supporting cast – which includes Jennifer Grey, Will Sharpe, and others – complete their assignments believably and humorously as the rest of the tour group that David and Benji are on, sketching out portraits of exactly the sort of people you’d meet on a trip like this and the way their interactions unfold, as they are briefly united as traveling partners and even friends who find themselves willing to share bits of themselves with complete strangers.

Final Thoughts

(L to R) Kieran Culkin and Jesse Eisenberg in ‘A Real Pain’. Photo Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures, © 2024 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.

‘A Real Pain’ is the kind of “small” independent film (albeit released by Disney subsidiary Searchlight Pictures) that may seem humble in its scope but actually says something quite large about family history in every sense of the word. It’s also a poignant reminder of how important it is to learn where we come from and to stay in touch with the people we love, a theme that Eisenberg skillfully makes clear without being heavy-handed or cloying.

It’s also funny as hell, lovely to look at, and should be in the Oscars conversation for best supporting actor and best original screenplay at the very least. ‘A Real Pain’ is anything but as a movie, and is an encouraging vehicle for both the future directorial career of Jesse Eisenberg and the continuing evolution of Kieran Culkin as one of our stealth best actors.

‘A Real Pain’ receives 8.5 out of 10 stars.
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What is the plot of ‘A Real Pain’?

When cousins David (Jesse Eisenberg) and Benji (Kieran Culkin) embark on a tour of Poland as a tribute to their late grandmother, longstanding tensions and unresolved issues in their relationship and family history come to the surface.

Who is in the cast of ‘A Real Pain’?
- Jesse Eisenberg as David Kaplan
- Kieran Culkin as Benji Kaplan
- Will Sharpe as James
- Jennifer Grey as Marcia
- Kurt Egyiawan as Eloge
- Liza Sadovy as Diane
- Daniel Oreskes as Mark
- Ellora Torchia as Priya
Jesse Eisenberg on the set of ‘A Real Pain’. Photo by Agata Grzybowska, Courtesy of Searchlight Pictures, © 2024 Searchlight Pictures All Rights Reserved.

List of Jesse Eisenberg Movies and TV Shows:
- ‘The Village‘ (2004)
- ‘The Squid and the Whale‘ (2005)
- ‘Adventureland‘ (2009)
- ‘Zombieland‘ (2009)
- ‘The Social Network‘ (2010)
- ‘Rio‘ (2011)
- ‘30 Minutes or Less‘ (2011)
- ‘Now You See Me‘ (2013)
- ‘Rio 2‘ (2014)
- ‘Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice‘ (2016)
- ‘Café Society‘ (2016)
- ‘Now You See Me 2‘ (2016)
- ‘Justice League‘ (2017)
- ‘Zombieland: Double Tap‘ (2019)
- ‘Fleishman Is in Trouble‘ (2022)
Buy Tickets: ‘A Real Pain’ Movie Showtimes

Buy Jessie Eisenberg Movies On Amazon
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November 2, 2024
Rosamund Pike Joins the Cast of ‘Now You See Me 3’
Rosamund Pike as Lady Elsbeth Catton in ‘Saltburn.’ Photo: Amazon MGM Studios. Amazon MGM Studios.

Preview:
- Rosamund Pike is joining the third ‘Now You See Me’ movie.
- She’ll appear alongside franchise veterans Jessie Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco and Isla Fisher
- ‘Zombieland’s Ruben Fleischer is in the director’s chair.
We learned last month that Ariana Greenblatt, Justice Smith and Dominic Sessa are all aboard for the third outing of illusion-based thriller movie series ‘Now You See Me’.

Another new recruit –– albeit someone who has enjoyed a longer career than anyone –– is also joining the cast. Rosamund Pike, most recently seen in ‘Saltburn’, has landed a mysterious role in the new movie, according to Lionsgate.
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What’s the story of the ‘Now You See Me’ movies?

(L to R) Isla Fisher, Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson and Dave Franco in 2013’s ‘Now You See Me.’ Photo: Lionsgate.

The original ‘Now You See Me’ in 2013 introduced us to magician team The Four Horsemen –– played by Jessie Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco and Isla Fisher, who specialize in dazzling big acts of trickery either in theaters or on the street, with an added extra –– they tend to steal from the rich to help the poor.

In that film, they’re being hunted by the authorities, including Mark Ruffalo’s FBI agent Dylan Rhodes, but he –– spoiler if you’ve never seen the movie –– turns out to be a magician himself, and introduces them to a secret society.

Three of the four (with Lizzy Caplan as a new recruit) returned for 2016’s ‘Now You See Me 2’ which sees the team recruited –– with threats –– by Daniel Radcliffe’s tech guru to pull off a heist.

As for the third movie? That is being kept in a special locked chest for now, with a script that has been through the hands of Eric Warren Singer, Seth Graham Smith and Mike Lesslie.

This is Lionsgate’s brief logline:

“The new film returns audiences to the thieving illusionists known as the Four Horseman while introducing audiences to a new generation of magicians.”

Ruben Fleischer –– who, of course directed Eisenberg and Harrelson in the ‘Zombieland’ movies –– will be calling the shots for this one.

Who else will be in ‘Now You See Me 3’?

(L to R) Jesse Eisenberg, Isla Fisher, Woody Harrelson, and Dave Franco in 2013’s ‘Now You See Me.’

Eisenberg, Harrelson, Fisher, Franco and fellow franchise stalwart Morgan Freeman (who played a magician hired to debunk the Horsemen will be back in their There has also been chatter about Mark Ruffalo, though his name doesn’t appear in the studio’s press release. Perhaps it’s all part of a complex bluff of a sort that the Horsemen would enjoy making work.

Related Article: ‘Now You See Me 3’ Adds Ariana Greenblatt, Justice Smith and Dominic Sessa

When will ‘Now You See Me 3’ be in theaters?

Lionsgate has yet to announce a release date for the new movie.

(L to R) Jesse Eisenberg, Dave Franco, Isla Fisher and Woody Harrelson in 2013’s ‘Now You See Me.’ Photo: Lionsgate.

Other Movies in the ‘Now You See Me’ Franchise:
- ‘Now You See Me‘ (2013)
- ‘Now You See Me 2‘ (2016)
Buy ‘Now You See Me’ Movies On Amazon
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May 10, 2024
Aaron Sorkin Planning ‘Spiritual Sequel’ to ‘The Social Network’
(L to R) Andrew Garfield and Jesse Eisenberg in ‘The Social Network’. Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing.

Preview:
- Aaron Sorkin is writing a script about Facebook’s dangerous influence.
- He was inspired by the January 6 incident.
- The project is still at an early stage.
Given that Aaron Sorkin won a Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar for turning Ben Mezrich’s book ‘The Accidental Billionaires’ into the story of Facebook’s birth and complicated, contested early days, it seems only natural that he might be the person to tackle a story about its power and influence in the current era.

And from the sounds of it, that’s just what the creator of TV classic ‘The West Wing’ is now working on, albeit independent of any studio commission. And it appears he’s very suspicious of the site’s motives and impact.
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What is Aaron Sorkin looking at for a potential new Facebook movie?

Aaron Sorkin attends the Academy’s 7th Annual Governors Awards in The Ray Dolby Ballroom at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, CA, on Saturday, November 14, 2015. Credit/Provider: Matt Petit / ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.

Talking on a live edition of ‘The Town’ Podcast, Sorkin announced that his concern regarding how Facebook’s system has poisoned politics on the personal and national level led him to start work on a new script, which while not a direct sequel to ‘The Social Network’, would follow up on the low-key fears that were subtextual in the original.

Here’s what Sorkin told hosts Matthew Belloni and Peter Hamby:

“Look, yeah, I’ll be writing about this. I blame Facebook for January 6. Facebook has been, among other things, tuning its algorithm to promote the most divisive material possible. Because that is what will increase engagement. That is what will get you to — what they call inside the hallways of Facebook — ‘the infinite scroll’ … There’s supposed to be a constant tension at Facebook between growth and integrity. There isn’t. There’s just growth. If Mark Zuckerberg woke up tomorrow morning and realized there is nothing you can buy for $120 billion that you can’t buy for $119 billion dollars, ‘So how about if I make a little bit less money? I will tune up integrity and tune down growth.’ Yes, you can do that by switching a one to a zero.”

Oh, and asked what exactly he’d be focused on, he told the audience that they’d have to buy a movie ticket to find that out.

Related Article: Jessie Eisenberg and Claire Danes Talk FX’s ‘Fleishman Is in Trouble’

Who could direct a ‘Social Network’ follow-up?

Jesse Eisenberg in ‘The Social Network’. Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing.

David Fincher, of course, directed ‘The Social Network’ to great success, and Sorkin has said in the past that any future Facebook-associated project would be one he’d only consider if the ‘Se7en’ and ‘Fight Club’ filmmaker was involved.

This is what he told the ‘Happy Sad Confused’ podcast in 2020:

“People have been talking to me about [a sequel] because of what we’ve discovered is the dark side of Facebook. Do I want to write that movie? Yeah I do. I will only write it if [David Fincher] directs it. If Billy Wilder came back from the grave and said he wanted to direct it, I’d say I’d only do it with David.”

Yet in recent years, Sorkin himself has stepped up to direct his scripts, with movies including ‘The Trial of the Chicago 7’ and ‘Being the Ricardos’.

Right now, this exists only as a work-in-progress script by Sorkin, so we’ll see whether he gets to the point where he wants to take it out and attract some interest.

Aaron Sorkin, Oscar®-nominee for Adapted Screenplay, arrives for the 84th Annual Academy Awards® from Hollywood, CA February 26, 2012. Credit/Provider: Todd Wawrychuk / ©A.M.P.A.S. Copyright: ©A.M.P.A.S.

Other Aaron Sorkin Movies:
- ‘A Few Good Men‘ (1992)
- ‘Malice‘ (1993)
- ‘The American President‘ (1995)
- ‘Charlie Wilson’s War‘ (2007)
- ‘The Social Network‘ (2010)
- ‘Moneyball‘ (2011)
- ‘Steve Jobs‘ (2015)
- ‘Molly’s Game‘ (2017)
- ‘The Trial of the Chicago 7‘ (2020)
- ‘Being the Ricardos‘ (2021)
Buy Aaron Sorkin Movies on Amazon
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April 26, 2024
Ariana Greenblatt and Justice Smith Join ‘Now You See Me 3’
(Left) Ariana Greenblatt in Warner Bros. Pictures’ ‘Barbie,’ a Warner Bros. Pictures release. Photo Credit: Courtesy Warner Bros. Pictures. Copyright: © 2023 Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved. (Center) Justice Smith talks ‘The American Society of Magical Negroes.’ (Right) Dominic Sessa stars as Angus Tully in director Alexander Payne’s ‘The Holdovers,’a Focus Features release. Credit: Seacia Pavao / © 2023 FOCUS FEATURES LLC.

Preview:
- ‘Now You See Me 3’ is moving forward.
- Ariana Greenblatt, Justice Smith and Dominic Sessa are the new additions.
- Ruben Fleischer is directing.
At its CinemaCon presentation this year, Lionsgate dropped word that, after years in development limbo, a third ‘Now You See Me’ movie is finally, actually moving forward, with ‘Zombieland’s Ruben Fleisher in the director’s chair (Louis Leterrier and Jon M. Chu handled the previous entries).

And now we know who will be starring in the movie, as ‘Barbie’s Ariana Greenblatt, ‘Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves’ Justice Smith and ‘The Holdovers’ breakout Dominic Sessa have all been announced as new recruits.
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What’s the story of the ‘Now You See Me’ movies?

(L to R) Isla Fisher, Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson and Dave Franco in 2013’s ‘Now You See Me.’ Photo: Lionsgate.

The original ‘Now You See Me’ in 2013 introduced us to magician team The Four Horsemen –– played by Jessie Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Dave Franco and Isla Fisher, who specialize in dazzling big acts of trickery either in theaters or on the street, with an added extra –– they tend to steal from the rich to help the poor.

In that film, they’re being hunted by the authorities, including Mark Ruffalo’s FBI agent Dylan Rhodes, but he –– spoiler if you’ve never seen the movie –– turns out to be a magician himself, and introduces them to a secret society.

Three of the four (with Lizzy Caplan as a new recruit) returned for 2016’s ‘Now You See Me 2’ which sees the team recruited –– with threats –– by Daniel Radcliffe’s tech guru to pull off a heist.

As for the third movie? That is being kept in a special locked chest for now, with a script that has been through the hands of Eric Warren Singer, Seth Graham Smith and Mike Lesslie.

This is Lionsgate’s brief logline:

“The new film returns audiences to the thieving illusionists known as the Four Horseman while introducing audiences to a new generation of magicians.”

Who else will be in ‘Now You See Me 3’?

(L to R) Jesse Eisenberg, Dave Franco, Isla Fisher and Woody Harrelson in 2013’s ‘Now You See Me.’ Photo: Lionsgate.

Deadline was first out of the gate with news on this one, reporting that Greenblatt (who will be seen this year in ‘Borderlands’ had joined the movie.

The Hollywood Reporter, meanwhile, brought word of Smith and Sessa.

Both trade sites (and the studio itself) mention that Jesse Eisenberg, Woody Harrelson, Isla Fisher and Dave Franco will be back in their roles, while Deadline adds Mark Ruffalo, though his name doesn’t appear elsewhere. Perhaps it’s all part of a complex bluff of a sort that the Horsemen would enjoy making work.

Related Article: ‘The Crow’, ‘Borderlands’ Showcased at Lionsgate’s CinemaCon Presentation

When will ‘Now You See Me 3’ be in theaters?

Lionsgate has yet to announce a release date for the new movie.

(L to R) Jesse Eisenberg, Isla Fisher, Woody Harrelson, and Dave Franco in 2013’s ‘Now You See Me.’

Other Movies in the ‘Now You See Me’ Franchise:
- ‘Now You See Me‘ (2013)
- ‘Now You See Me 2‘ (2016)
Buy ‘Now You See Me’ Movies On Amazon
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April 24, 2024
‘Fleishman Is in Trouble’s Jessie Eisenberg and Claire Danes

(L to R) Claire Danes and Jesse Eisenberg star in FX on Hulu’s ‘Fleishman Is in Trouble.’

Premiering on FX on Hulu beginning November 17th is the new series ‘Fleishman Is in Trouble,’ which is based on the novel of the same name as Taffy Brodesser-Akner.

The series stars Jessie Eisenberg (‘Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice‘) as Toby Fleishman, a recently divorced doctor who is new to the world of dating apps. But when his ex-wife Rachel (Claire Danes) disappears, leaving him alone with his kids, he realizes that he will never find out what happened to her if he doesn’t first examine what happened to their marriage.

In addition to Eisenberg and Danes, the series also features Lizzy Caplan (‘Cloverfield’), Adam Brody (‘Shazam!’), Josh Radnor (‘Liberal Arts’), and Christian Slater (‘True Romance’).

Moviefone recently had the pleasure of speaking with Jessie Eisenberg and Claire Danes about their work on ‘Fleishman Is in Trouble,’ the story, their characters, and taking their work home with them.

Jesse Eisenberg as Toby Fleishman in FX on Hulu’s ‘Fleishman Is in Trouble.’ Photo courtesy of Hulu.

Moviefone: To begin with, Jessie, can you talk about how Toby is dealing with his divorce? It’s not going the way he expected, is it?

Jessie Eisenberg: Yeah, exactly. Nor did the marriage. It’s kind of like when you’re married, and your hope is that you’ll be a single unit, that not only it never disintegrates, but that you’ll kind of flourish as one. But for Toby, he was so rigid in what he wanted her to be, that he could be nothing except disappointed. Toby is first attracted to Rachel because she is self-possessed, ambitious in an interesting way, and she stands up for herself and he sees in her an amazing, stable life partner.

But then what he sees happen is all of those great qualities become exaggerated in her, that she becomes ambitious to a fault, that she neglects the family, that she becomes so self-determined and so self-reliant that she doesn’t need us and kind of severs an emotional connection. So, it’s all of these things that seemed at the onset as wonderful assets turn into something that he considers toxic and unsustainable. What’s amazing about the show is that it also switches perspectives and you see the show from her angle. Then you see that actually his assessment of her is completely coming from his own rigid sense of a narrow worldview and narrow set of ethics.

MF: Claire, do you think Rachel is misunderstood? How would you describe your character?

Claire Danes: Sure, I mean, she’s misunderstood to herself too. Toby doesn’t have X-ray vision. Even if you were an actual analyst doctor, it’s very hard to see your partner clearly. But I think she doesn’t know how much trauma she’s carrying and neither does he. So, neither of them knows that this ambition is also a coping mechanism, and is as largely to do with her not fleeing from a lot of pain and she wasn’t sufficiently loved. She’s found ways of managing that, which seem very impressive, but are actually kind of feeble.

Claire Danes as Rachel in FX on Hulu’s ‘Fleishman Is in Trouble.’ Photo courtesy of Hulu.

So yes, they both can’t outrun it indefinitely. She can’t. This is the outcome, and it’s gory and it’s graphic, and it’s very unpleasant. But hopefully they are able to see themselves more clearly, and sadly they can only do that outside of the relationship.

MF: Finally, as actors, do you ever have the experience where you go home and realize you are still acting like your character? Do you ever accidentally take your work home with you?

CD: Definitely. I think because we were arguing, we were bickering incessantly on set and there’s something kind of infectious and addictive about that. It’s almost like cursing, you can’t turn it off. So, occasionally I’d come home and be in a combative mode just because I had been doing those drills all day long. I’d been sort of conditioned to be in that mode. The characters are definitely mired in that pattern.

Claire Danes as Rachel in FX on Hulu’s ‘Fleishman Is in Trouble.’ Photo courtesy of Hulu.

December 2, 2022