Facebook movie pinning down director, cast

(Credit: Doubleday)

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.

[jwchen]

Come to think of it, any one of three from the movie Superbad could play Zuckerberg.

[caroline.mccarthy]

McLovin!!

[sharmajunior]

I agree with McLovin as well.

[phylum--2008]

Only one man can play Zuckerberg: Jon Heder, in all his "Napoleon Dynamite" glory!! I bet $50 that the real Zuckerberg owns a liger...

[TaxmanCDN]

Would anyone really go to see this movie? It sounds like they are making it dramatic and over-the-top for the movie. I doubt it will have much resemblance to reality once Sorkin is done with it.

[edfaulkner]

Are you trying to Punk us? This is the lamest idea for a movie I've ever heard. I can already hear The Kooks or Plain White T's playing behind a scene of "all nite coding". Riveting!

[thisnamestoolong]

Et tu, David Fincher? You made Se7en, one of the most twisted psychological dramas ever made, Fight Club, one of the most strongly pro-Anarchy films ever to blast its way into Hollywood.... now you are directing... Facebook: The Movie? I just died a little bit inside...

[Harrison912]

I use FaceBook mainly for socially marketing my safety and security web site so anything FaceBook interestes me. I don't think this movie will be a blockbuster but lots of people will be curious and go see it. I just wonder how it will end. Thanks, Caroline, for this information.

[C0mmanderB0nd]

So AOL the movie never made it to the big screen so now they are trying Facebook?????

Maybe Sorkin could call Tina Fey to help since Studio 60 was a bomb and 30 rock was a hit and both were based on the flimsy premise people would care about the stories of personalities behind the scenes of Saturday night live.

Michael Cera is perfect in virtually every role he plays. Damn I love that guy. I will literally be first in line if he's playing Zuckerberg in this film.

[kinghoipolloi]

I saw that someone has the vanity name facebook.com/movie : I wonder if he knows how valuable that the name is?