You’re probably reading this post with your Facebook page opened up in another window, perhaps ‘officially’ ending a relationship or maybe fervently sending friend requests to start new ones. You also have no idea that this vast virtual world of social connectivity through which all of your interpersonal relations are forged was created by a couple of Harvard misfits with characteristically geeky computer skills. At the dawn of Facebook’s success, their friendship deteriorated and egos expanded in an epic struggle for power. It’s one hell of a story - and it should be one hell of a movie.
Columbia Pictures has bought the rights to Ben Mezrich’s novel about Facebook’s genesis, "The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding Of Facebook, A Tale of Sex, Money, Genius, and Betrayal." Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin (best known for penning “A F
ew Good Men”) has written the screenplay, and a surprising choice has been made for the director.
David Fincher, mostly known for dark, stylistic movies such as “Se7en”, “Zodiac”, and the cult hit “Fight Club”, is taking on the project, which is considerably less grand and ambitious as his latest work – Academy-award nominated “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.” As a huge Fincher fan, I personally cannot help but wonder how this master of mystery and suspense will tackle such melodramatic material. Then again, Fincher just might add that touch of shrewdness that has been his signature in his films – visually captivating scenes fluidly swooping by with dark humor maintained throughout. In fact, it will be, in a way, refreshing to see Fincher’s trademark directorial choices made in a new context (no violence, no deaths, and no shady characters.)
Filming began in October 2009 in Cambridge Massachusetts, and is set for release in late 2010-2011.
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