Fight Club's Fincher to direct Facebook film?

By Caroline McCarthy on 25 June 2009, 10:28am

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 book The Accidental Billionaires, was written by The West Wing creator Aaron Sorkin. It's being produced, Variety reported on 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.

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

An entertainment industry source told CNET UK sister site CNET News that early casting searches are underway and that the list of young actors being considered to play Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg includes both Michael Cera (Superbad, Arrested Development) and Shia LaBeouf (Transformers).

Cera is, according to the source, the top choice because audiences find him particularly likable. Rumours about the plot of The Accidental Billionaires hint that Zuckerberg is going to be portrayed rather unfavourably -- basically, as an obnoxious nerd -- and obnoxious nerds are not the world's biggest box-office selling point. Cera could possibly make the part more sympathetic. In LaBeouf's favour, he really does sound like Zuckerberg.

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