Aaron Sorkin, the acclaimed screenwriter behind notable works such as “The Social Network” and “The West Wing,” recently reflected on his evolving approach to storytelling, his struggles with substance abuse, and his perspective on portraying real-life figures in film.

Sorkin, who initially dismissed the idea of returning to Facebook-related stories after 2010’s “The Social Network,” changed his stance following his exposure to new revelations about the company. Drawing inspiration from the investigations of whistleblower Frances Haugen and journalist Jeff Horwitz, he developed a new screenplay exploring the platform’s impact. He differentiates this latest project from a traditional sequel, describing it as another film about Facebook featuring some of the same characters but told with a fresh approach.

Reflecting on “The Social Network,” Sorkin emphasized his original depiction of Mark Zuckerberg not as a villain but as an antihero — an individual whose motivations are complex and who, in Sorkin’s words, presents his case “to God why they should get into heaven.” He acknowledged the artistic liberties taken in portraying Zuckerberg as socially awkward and unmarried at the time of Facebook’s founding, despite evidence to the contrary, underscoring the balance between factual accuracy and narrative creativity in his work. Sorkin explained that while he conducts extensive research, the characters in his scripts become his own creations once the writing process begins, allowing him to explore their motivations in depth without necessarily passing judgment.

Sorkin also spoke candidly about his past struggles with drug addiction, revealing that his substance use began in his mid-20s after initially resisting marijuana. He credited a phone call from actress Carrie Fisher, encouraged by his friend Warren Beatty, as a pivotal moment that motivated him to seek rehabilitation. Since becoming sober, Sorkin has challenged the notion that creative output depends on substance use, noting that he was able to produce quality work on the pilot episode of “The West Wing” without drugs.

The writer acknowledged that despite the darkness of his personal experiences with addiction, his writing tends to embrace optimism and romanticism. He suggested this may stem from a desire to connect positively with audiences, avoiding the portrayal of himself in less favorable terms. Sorkin admitted that he has hesitated to delve into autobiographical storytelling, concerned that the resulting character would be unappealing to readers.

Throughout the discussion, Sorkin highlighted his belief that good storytelling transcends politics or agendas, focusing instead on crafting compelling narratives. He positioned his work as a “painting” rather than a photograph, portraying real-life subjects with a degree of artistic interpretation, while remaining mindful of legal boundaries.

The screenwriter’s reflections offer insight into the challenges of adapting real-world events for the screen, the complexities of creative persona, and the personal journey behind some of Hollywood’s most influential scripts.