Aaron Sorkin on why he made another movie about Facebook
META•Aaron Sorkin said meeting whistleblower Frances Haugen inspired “The Social Reckoning,” a film about her disclosures and journalist Jeff Horwitz that debuts in theaters Friday. Sorkin said major facts are accurate, but he created conversations and a timeline for the film.
1. Haugen inspired the film
Sorkin said he had struggled with writer’s block before meeting Haugen, a former Facebook employee whose disclosures raised concerns about social media’s effects on health, safety and global politics. “The Social Reckoning” centers on Haugen and Horwitz, who wrote “The Facebook Files” using thousands of internal documents she provided.
2. Fiction and reported events
The film depicts Haugen’s meetings with Horwitz beginning in December 2020, her decision to go public and her testimony to Congress. Sorkin said major facts are accurate, but he created conversations and a timeline; Horwitz said Sorkin planned to change some chronology and details and use a fictionalized reporter composite.
3. Meta and the cast
Meta declined to comment on the film. Facebook disputed Haugen’s characterization of its operations, and Zuckerberg said the claim that the company deliberately pushed anger-inducing content for profit was “deeply illogical.” Jeremy Strong plays Zuckerberg, Jeremy Allen White portrays Horwitz and Mikey Madison plays Haugen.
