Oscar Buzz for Justin Timberlake—for Real?!

Costar of The Social Network reacts to talk of his performance being worthy of an Academy Award

By Peter Gicas Sep 29, 2010 5:35 PMTags

Academy award winner Justin Timberlake.

If Social Network screenwriter Aaron Sorkin had his way about it, that's exactly how we'd all eventually be referring to the costar of the upcoming film about the founding of Facebook.

"That's very nice of Aaron," Timberlake humbly replies when told by E! News of Sorkin's kind words about his performance as Napster cofounder Sean Parker being Oscar-worthy.

But he's also quick to give credit where credit is due…

"I feel like all we did was try not to mess his fantastic words up," J.T. says of Sorkin's script. "I think we felt like everything we needed was so brilliantly laid out in a fantastic, almost Greek operatic drama. We showed up to work every day feeling like we were showing up at Willy Wonka's chocolate factory and getting to taste all the candy just by saying his lines. His dialogue is like no other."

Andrew Garfield, who portrays Facebook cofounder Eduardo Saverin in the movie, seconds that emotion.

"We all fought for it because we all desperately wanted to be a part of this because the script was so incredible," Garfield says. "And [director] David Fincher, we were all such massive fans of his work."

"I did kick the door down to be a part of this," adds Timberlake. "I think I auditioned a couple of times."

And, well, he did get the role, so maybe Sorkin is on to something with all the Oscar chatter. Who knows? Maybe he'll give the guy a hand with his acceptance speech.