How Jeremy Strong Transformed Into a “Living Breathing” Mark Zuckerberg for ‘The Social Reckoning’
The article introduces *The Social Reckoning*, Aaron Sorkin’s follow-up to *The Social Network*, inspired by whistleblower Frances Haugen and reporter Jeff Horwitz. It centres on Haugen and Wall Street Journal reporter Horwitz investigating Facebook’s awareness of risks linked to its algorithm, alongside Mark Zuckerberg’s preparation for congressional hearings.
In an interview, Wunmi Mosaku describes the intense preparation required for Sorkin’s dialogue, including learning every word, cue and punctuation while balancing another production and caring for her new baby. She says Idris Elba urged her to master her lines, and begins discussing what it was like to act opposite Jeremy Strong, who plays Zuckerberg and immerses himself deeply in his roles. The supplied article text cuts off before she finishes that answer.
- Aaron Sorkin’s new film revisits Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg.
- Wunmi Mosaku meticulously learned Sorkin’s dialogue.
- Mosaku discusses acting opposite Jeremy Strong’s immersive approach.
New here? Start with this
The Social Reckoning is filmmaker Aaron Sorkin's follow-up to his 2010 film The Social Network. The new film centres on investigations into Facebook's algorithm and the company's awareness of risks it posed, drawing on the real experiences of whistleblower Frances Haugen and Wall Street Journal reporter Jeff Horwitz. It also depicts Mark Zuckerberg's preparation for congressional hearings on these matters.
Frances Haugen leaked confidential Facebook documents in 2021, prompting widespread debate about the platform's impact on users' wellbeing and society. Her disclosures, alongside reporting by journalists including Jeff Horwitz, eventually triggered major congressional hearings where Facebook executives faced questions about what the company knew regarding potential harms.
The film depicts events from a period of intense scrutiny of major technology companies by regulators, lawmakers and the public. The investigations shown in the film became a defining moment in debates about how social media platforms operate and what accountability they face for their effects on users and society.