Jeremy Strong Emailed Mark Zuckerberg Before Playing Him in ‘The Social Reckoning’

Jeremy Strong contacted Mark Zuckerberg before filming The Social Reckoning, saying he wanted to take the role seriously and portray the Facebook founder accurately.

In a new GQ profile published Aug. 12, Strong said he emailed Zuckerberg to explain that he was approaching the role with “respect” and a strong sense of responsibility. Zuckerberg replied, although Strong did not reveal what they discussed.

Strong plays Zuckerberg in The Social Reckoning, Aaron Sorkin’s follow-up to the 2010 film The Social Network. The new movie focuses on Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen, whose leaked company documents led to a major investigation by The Wall Street Journal in 2021.

Strong said he felt “an enormous sense of weight and responsibility” playing such a controversial public figure. He said his goal was not to condemn Zuckerberg but to understand and defend his perspective.

To prepare, Strong joined Facebook and watched Zuckerberg’s congressional testimony. He said he wanted to portray the real Zuckerberg rather than a fictionalized version of him.

Jesse Eisenberg, who played Zuckerberg in The Social Network, chose not to return despite Sorkin’s efforts to persuade him. Strong was later offered the role.

The Social Reckoning, which also stars Mikey Madison and Jeremy Allen White, is scheduled to hit theaters Oct. 9.