‘The Social Reckoning’ Trailer: Jeremy Strong Has Zuckerberg Down, But Can Sorkin Escape Fincher’s Shadow?

A new trailer for Aaron Sorkin’s “The Social Reckoning” has dropped online. I believe this is the same one I saw recently in theaters. Regardless, I’m still not sold on this thing.

With David Fincher not directing, there’s obvious skepticism about the execution. Inevitable comparisons to ‘Social Network’ will dominate the conversation, and the visual style and overall impact of that 2010 classic will put the entirety of Sorkin’s film to the test.

Jesse Eisenberg’s decision not to return as Zuckerberg for Sorkin’s “spiritual sequel” is another major obstacle for the film to overcome. Eisenberg made the role iconic 15 years ago, and the very thought of someone else playing Zuckerberg initially feels a bit off.

That said, Jeremy Strong is indeed the clear standout in the trailer— his voice, mannerisms, and ability to capture Zuckerberg’s awkwardness are spot-on. I’m sure Mikey Madison and Jeremy Allen White will deliver good work as well. Sorkin’s writing also needs to get the benefit of the doubt, rather than his directing, but he does have a tendency to sometimes veer toward formulaic storytelling.

I don’t know; “curious but cautious” is the right phrase to use at the moment, but this latest trailer still leaves me unconvinced, and minority opinion, the only Sorkin-directed film I actually liked is “Molly’s Game.”

“The Social Reckoning” centers on the fallout covered in The Facebook Files, a series of reports published by The Wall Street Journal in 2021. The articles exposed internal company documents revealing Facebook’s own awareness of the harm its platform was causing — particularly to teens, developing countries, and the broader global information ecosystem.

A few weeks ago, we learned that ‘Social Reckoning, dated for October 9, was in the middle of reshoots, Madison and White were spotted on the set. The film is supposed to be released three months from now. That’s cutting it close.