Jeremy Strong in talks to replace Jesse Eisenberg for Social Network 2

The Long-awaited Social Network sequel is facing a big casting shake-up. 

Jesse Eisenberg, who played Mark Zuckerberg in the original 2010 film, has reportedly passed on returning for the sequel.

Eisenberg won widespread acclaim for his portrayal of Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network. The role also earned him Oscar, Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations.

But despite a decade of speculation about a follow-up, the actor has now stepped away from reprising the role of Zuckerberg.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Eisenberg has “passed” on the role, though it’s unclear whether the move is final or part of ongoing negotiations.

The new sequel is currently in development from Social Network screenwriter Aaron Sorkin, who also plans to direct the follow-up this time.

While Eisenberg’s exit leaves the film without its original lead, casting is already in motion.

Jeremy Allen White (The Bear), Mikey Madison (Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood), and Succession’s Jeremy Strong are reportedly circling roles.

Strong is possibly in line to either portray Zuckerberg or play a key figure from the WSJ newsroom.

Unlike the original, which focused on Facebook’s early days and legal battles, the new film will look at the platform’s broader influence, especially in the aftermath of The Facebook Files, a series of investigative pieces by Wall Street Journal reporter Jeff Horwitz that revealed what was really happening behind the scenes at Facebook.

The tone is said to be similar to The Insider or Spotlight, the films which are centred on investigative journalism and real-world fallout.

David Fincher, who directed the original 2010 film, is not currently attached to the sequel.

That movie, adapted from Ben Mezrich’s book The Accidental Billionaires, chronicled the messy rise of Facebook and the lawsuits that followed.

The sequel, working under the title The Social Network Part II, will be produced by Sorkin, Todd Black, Peter Rice, and Stuart Besser.