More than 15 years after portraying Mark Zuckerberg in the Oscar-winning film The Social Network, Jesse Eisenberg has made it clear that he has no interest in returning to the role. Speaking during an in-conversation session at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, the actor explained why he chose not to appear in Aaron Sorkin’s upcoming sequel, The Social Reckoning. Instead of revisiting one of the most celebrated performances of his career, Eisenberg said he no longer wants to be connected with the tech billionaire.
The actor was honoured with the festival’s President’s Award, but much of the discussion quickly shifted toward his breakthrough role as the Facebook founder. As fans continue to look forward to the next chapter of the story, Eisenberg admitted that his feelings about Zuckerberg have changed significantly since the original film was released in 2010.
“I Don’t Want To Be Associated With Him Anymore”
During the conversation, Eisenberg was asked whether he felt responsible for shaping the public image of Mark Zuckerberg through his performance. His answer surprised many in attendance as he revealed he had no desire to return for the sequel.
“I don’t want to be associated with him anymore because I don’t really like the comparison.”
The sequel, titled The Social Reckoning, will instead feature Jeremy Strong as Zuckerberg. The film also stars Mikey Madison as former Facebook engineer Frances Haugen, whose whistleblower disclosures exposed internal documents about the company, while Jeremy Allen White plays the Wall Street Journal reporter who helped bring the revelations to the public.
Eisenberg reflected on how little-known Zuckerberg was when David Fincher cast him in The Social Network. According to the actor, the role initially felt like an unusual character study rather than the portrayal of one of the world’s most recognisable technology executives.
David Fincher Didn’t Even Ask Him To Audition
Looking back at the casting process, Eisenberg recalled preparing extensively before meeting director David Fincher. He memorised pages of dialogue expecting a traditional audition, only for the meeting to take a completely unexpected turn.
“They flew me out to California. I memorized 15 pages of dialogue, and then, when I got into the room with [Fincher], I said: Do you want me to read anything? He was like, ‘Nah, put that away. I just want to tell you about this guy I knew.’”
Fincher instead described a studio executive whose unreadable expressions inspired the personality he wanted for Zuckerberg. Eisenberg immediately understood the approach and accepted the challenge.
“Oh, that sounds great. I would love to do that. And that was it.”
The actor also pointed out that Zuckerberg was largely unknown outside the technology industry when production began. As Facebook expanded into one of the biggest social media platforms in the world, public perception of its founder changed dramatically, altering how Eisenberg himself viewed the character years later.
Why Jesse Eisenberg Avoids Social Media
The conversation eventually moved beyond films and into social media itself. Eisenberg admitted that he has deliberately stayed away from platforms like Facebook and X because they make him uncomfortable. As someone constantly speaking about his work during interviews and promotions, he said he already feels exposed enough without sharing more of his life online.
“It’s not healthy. No human being has ever talked about themselves as much as I talk about myself. So I’m not on any [social media]. All that stuff scares me so much, you know, Facebook and social media, Twitter, whatever, because I already feel humiliated to be in public talking about myself. It’s disgusting. All that stuff terrifies me.”
He then added another reason why returning to Zuckerberg’s world no longer appeals to him.
“Then, being in the movie about it, too, made it even more scary because I see that the person who created this website is not a person who cares about people. I’m like: well, if this guy is the creator of this world, I don’t want to live in that world.”
Apart from discussing The Social Network, Eisenberg also reflected on his growing career behind the camera. He spoke about the different reactions to his directorial films, including When You Finish Saving the World and the acclaimed A Real Pain, suggesting that audiences often judge male and female characters differently. He also praised A24 for giving filmmakers greater creative freedom compared to traditional Hollywood studios, while expressing admiration for Europe’s public support of independent cinema.
Eisenberg is now preparing for the release of his next directorial project, The Debut, starring Julianne Moore and Paul Giamatti. But despite revisiting many chapters of his career during the festival, one thing was unmistakably clear: returning as Mark Zuckerberg is no longer part of his plans.
