http://news.cnet.com/8301-13577_3-10271662-36.html


Facebook movie pinning down director, cast

by Caroline McCarthy


David Fincher is in "advanced talks" to direct the Columbia Pictures movie about the origins of Facebook, according to Variety.

The movie, based on Ben Mezrich's upcoming "The Accidental Billionaires," was written by "The West Wing" creator Aaron Sorkin. It's being produced, Variety reported Tuesday, by Scott Rudin and Michael De Luca along with Dana Brunetti and actor Kevin Spacey. Variety said the movie is called "The Social Network." We hear this is a very preliminary working title. (It, obviously, could also be called "Accidental Billionaires.")

Fincher's past directorial work includes "Fight Club," "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," and "Panic Room."

An entertainment industry source tells CNET News that early casting searches are under way and that the list of young actors being eyeballed to play Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg includes both Michael Cera ("Superbad," "Arrested Development") and Shia LaBeouf ("Transformers"). They aren't the only ones, and it's not clear whether either of those two in-demand actors would want to take a turn away from comedies (Cera) or action movies (LaBeouf) to play Zuckerberg.

Cera is, according to the source, a top choice because audiences find him particularly likable. Rumors about the plot of the book "Accidental Billionaires" hint that Zuckerberg is going to be portrayed rather unfavorably--basically, as an obnoxious nerd--and obnoxious nerds are not the world's biggest box-office sell. Cera could make the part a little bit more sympathetic.

But in LaBeouf's favor, I saw "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" last night, and the guy really does sound a lot like Zuckerberg.

Meanwhile, Facebook itself reportedly isn't thrilled. The social network consistently hasn't commented publicly about "Accidental Billionaires" and is said to have warned employees not to talk to anyone affiliated with the movie.

6/24/2009 1:13:46 PM

lol

6/24/2009 1:20:59 PM

i was just about to post this

6/24/2009 1:25:08 PM

I like this.

Where can I join the fan page?

6/24/2009 1:30:54 PM

lol

6/24/2009 1:31:33 PM

anything for a quick buck

:carlface:

6/24/2009 4:50:31 PM

lol

6/24/2009 4:58:59 PM

Why don't they just call it Pirates of Silicon Valley Part 2 and make it about Mark Facebook and Tom MySpace

6/24/2009 5:14:28 PM

^perfect casting for Tom http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXEfPFdll8Q

6/24/2009 5:28:17 PM

i bet 90% of the people to see this movie will show up late and many will leave halfway through. the ones that stay for the whole thing will probably just complain the whole time.

6/24/2009 10:19:25 PM

wow the movie industry is horrible

6/24/2009 10:31:36 PM

I clicked on this thread fully expecting the OP to contain nothing but an embed of a video from collegehumor.

6/24/2009 11:03:32 PM

FINCHER'S ON A ROLL, FIRST THE CURIOUS CASE OF EAT MY SHIT AND NOW THIS

6/24/2009 11:50:57 PM