Aaron Sorkin Wrote Himself An Outline To Convince Jesse Eisenberg To Return For 'The Social Reckoning' — And It Still Didn't Work

Sorkin's friend request to Jesse Eisenberg? Denied. And the story of how hard he tried to get him back for The Social Reckoning is honestly kind of epic.

With the Social Network follow-up hitting theaters Oct. 9, the press tour is turning up the receipts, and we are HERE for it.

The Outline Of Desperation

According to Deadline, which pulled from an Entertainment Weekly interview, Sorkin says it simply "never occurred" to him that Eisenberg wouldn't want to reprise Mark Zuckerberg.

He was reportedly just a couple of pages from finishing the script when he ran into the actor, told him something was coming, and Eisenberg "smiled and nodded." Then Sorkin sent it over.

Then came a full three-day weekend of persuasion before Sorkin ultimately cast Jeremy Strong as Zuckerberg last September, per Deadline.

Here's the wildest part: Sorkin says it's the only time he's ever written himself an outline for a conversation. His pitch included, per the report, arguments like "we already know you're gonna be great because you were already once."

"Money Does Not Motivate Jesse"

Sorkin knew what the studio was offering. It didn't matter.

"Money does not motivate Jesse. It's infuriating," he said, adding that if anything, money is a disincentive for Eisenberg, who's reportedly concerned about raising his kids with too much of it. Variety also notes Sorkin claimed the paycheck was a "disincentive."

Sorkin's theory on why Eisenberg passed: he just doesn't like being conflated with Zuckerberg anymore, and the role is probably what he's most known for. (That's Sorkin's read, not Eisenberg's own words, so take it as one side of the story.)

Enter Jeremy Strong, Stage Left

Strong stepped in and, per Deadline, even sent emails to Sorkin as if he were Zuckerberg himself. Yes, really.

Speaking to The New Yorker Radio Hour, Strong explained he'd take "Jeremy out of this at that point," adding, "I know sounds crazy, but it's really not. It's about sort of negative space."

He also said he cares what the real Zuckerberg thinks of the film, which is why he reached out to him in the first place. His hope is for the movie to be "a dialectic rather than a polemic," and he says he found himself defending Zuckerberg to his own director during filming.

The Method Madness Continues

Naturally, host David Remnick asked about the method acting. Strong's answer, via Variety: if people feel he's taking it too seriously, that's something he doesn't feel he needs to "apologize" for, because it's "in service of the material."

He also clarified the infamous Chicago 7 tear gas request, saying it would have involved no one else and was only for a close-up.

Variety adds that Sorkin told the New York Times in September that Strong treated co-stars "the way he imagines" Zuckerberg would. And Brian Cox has previously called Strong's approach "annoying" while also saying he was "wonderful to act with." Mixed reviews from the Succession family!

The Tea ☕

• Sorkin says he never imagined Eisenberg would say no, even writing himself an outline to persuade him.
• Eisenberg passed; Jeremy Strong plays Zuckerberg, with Mikey Madison, Jeremy Allen White, Bill Burr and more in the cast.
• Strong says he won't apologize for his method approach.
• The Social Reckoning opens Oct. 9.

So, Team Eisenberg (walking away on principle) or Team Strong (committing to the bit)? And will you be buying a ticket? Sound off below.

Sources: Deadline, Deadline, Variety