Social Reckoning: Aaron Sorkin Debuts First Footage of Jeremy Strong as Mark Zuckerberg, Calls It a David and Goliath Story

The Social Reckoning director Aaron Sorkin hit the stage at CinemaCon to debut the trailer for the companion piece to The Social Network.

“A while back, we told a story about a college kid who built a website in his dorm and connected the world. Well, as you might have noticed, a couple of things have changed since that dream exploded into a global corporation,” Sorkin told the crowd. “There isn’t a life that Facebook’s algorithm hasn’t touched, and that influence has reshaped everything.”

Sorkin continued, “It’s time to say more.” He teased of the new film, “It’s a real David and Goliath story.”

Sony Picturesis set to release The Social Reckoningin theaters Oct. 9. The buzzy cast includes Mikey Madison,Jeremy Allen White,Bill BurrandJeremy Strong.

“I am here to help Facebook, not hurt it, OK?” Madison says in the trailer.

This footage marks the first look at Strong as Mark Zuckerberg. “I am professional defendant,” Strong quips from a courtroom in the trailer. Later, he says of himself, “I am a free speech absolutist.”

The trailer shows White saying somberly about the company, “I know there are easier enemies to make.”

Strong has an intense moment when he exerts his authority: “People understand that when I say no, that’s the end of the debate.”

Sorkin directsThe Social Reckoningfrom his own script after earning an Oscar for his screenplay for the original 2010 film, directed by David Fincher. The new project centers on a young Facebook engineer named Frances Haugen (Madison) who teams up withWall Street Journalreporter Jeff Horwitz (White) on a risky mission to bring attention to the social network’s biggest secrets.

The forthcoming film is set 17 years after the events ofThe Social Network, which focused onJesse Eisenberg‘s lead portrayal of Mark Zuckerberg as he created the social media platform and was later sued by co-founder Eduardo Saverin (Andrew Garfield) and the Winklevoss twins (Armie Hammer). Todd Black, Peter Rice and Stuart Besser produceThe Social Reckoningalongside Sorkin.

Strong plays Zuckerberg inThe Social Reckoning, portraying an older version of the Meta CEO than viewers saw in the 2010 movie.Director Fincher’sThe Social Networkcollected $226 million at the global box office and landed eight Academy Award nominations, including best picture. Sorkin’s win was among the film’s three trips to the podium.

CinemaCon is the annual event for exhibitors and Hollywood studios that runs this year from April 13-16. It is the official convention of Cinema United.