Inside Facebook

Ben Mezrich’s “The Accidental Billionaires,” the famously embellished story of Facebook’s early days, is coming to the big screen in a movie that will be produced by Kevin Spacey, Spacey told MTV yesterday. The film will be called “The Social Network” and may start shooting as soon as later this year.

It won’t be the first time Spacey has produced an adaptation based on a book by Mezrich, who Facebook VP of Global Communications and Public Policy Elliot Schrage says, “Clearly aspires to be the Jackie Collins or Danielle Steele of Silicon Valley.” Last year, Spacey produced “21,” based on Mezrich’s “Bringing Down the House,” the story of how MIT students gamed Vegas.

While Facebook’s founders probably won’t appreciate some of the liberties the film will take with Facebook’s history (Mark Zuckerberg refused to be interviewed for Mezrich’s book, preferring instead to work with David Kirkpatrick on his upcoming authorized story), it will mean that Facebook will be in the entertainment headlines and the topic of discussion around the watercooler even more as the film approaches.

“We’re at a very early stage,” Spacey said. “But I think it’s on the fast track. I think the film — they want to do it and maybe even do it this year. So it’s gonna happen. But I have no clue as to who may be in it, because ultimately that will be [up to] the director.”