Succession star takes on Facebook founder role

After portraying Kendall Roy—the troubled, ambitious, brilliant, dangerous, and unpredictable heir to a media empire in the acclaimed TV series Succession—Jeremy Strong is once again exploring the world of powerful figures, this time from the perspective of social media.

The versatile actor, winner of an Emmy and a Golden Globe among other awards, is already generating buzz online for his portrayal of Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Reckoning, which focuses on the Facebook founder during the years of major scandals. The film’s first trailer has just been released, CE Report quotes ANSA.

The movie, which also stars Betty Gilpin, Bill Burr, Wunmi Mosaku, Billy Magnussen, Gbenga Akinnagbe, and Nelson Franklin, is scheduled for release on October 9. The date has sparked speculation that it could premiere at the Venice Film Festival, the Toronto International Film Festival, or both.

Although not a direct sequel, the film is connected to The Social Network, directed by David Fincher and also written by Aaron Sorkin. The 2010 film chronicled Facebook’s origins and featured Zuckerberg played by Jesse Eisenberg. Eisenberg chose not to reprise the role, feeling that chapter of his career was behind him.

Strong takes over the role in a story centered on journalist Jeff Horwitz, portrayed by Jeremy Allen White. The narrative draws on The Facebook Files, Horwitz’s 2021 investigation for The Wall Street Journal, based on internal company documents leaked by Frances Haugen, played by Mikey Madison.

The investigation examined Facebook’s internal practices, including issues related to misinformation and inadequate content moderation, and the resulting social consequences.

The scandal ultimately led Zuckerberg to testify before the U.S. Congress. The trailer references these events and showcases Strong with red hair and a blunt demeanor. Many online viewers have noted similarities in his voice, mannerisms, and perceived arrogance to Zuckerberg.

At one point in the trailer, the character declares, “I am a free speech absolutist.” Later, while preparing for a congressional hearing, he snaps and shouts, “Enough. People here know that when I say no, the debate is over.”

Despite not closely resembling Zuckerberg physically, Strong’s performance has impressed many viewers. Some commentators have jokingly nicknamed the film “Zuccession,” combining Zuckerberg’s name with Succession.

While preparing for the role, Strong described The Social Reckoning as “one of the best scripts I’ve ever read.” He said the story “speaks to our times” and addresses major issues shaping today’s world. He also emphasized that his interpretation of Zuckerberg is entirely different from Eisenberg’s version.

A few months ago, speaking at CinemaCon, Sorkin explained why he decided to revisit Facebook after such a long gap since The Social Network. According to the writer-director, the platform’s influence “has reshaped everything.”

“For Sorkin, there is not a single life that hasn’t been touched in some way by Facebook’s algorithm. That’s why it’s time to say more.”

Photo: IMDB