David Fincher’s upcoming American adaptation of Stieg Larsson’s first book in the Millennium Trilogy, ‘The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo’ has caught the attention of some of the biggest actresses in the world.
Since it was revealed that Fincher would take the reins on this remake of the Swedish thriller, which was released this year starring Noomi Rapace and Michael Nyqvist, the rumoured news of who would play the unforgettable role of Lisbeth Salander has been asked all over the place. From the beginning, Carey Mulligan’s (of 2009’s ‘An Education’) name has appeared but some reports suggest that Fincher wants an unknown actress to take the role.
Deadline report that names such as Anne Hathaway, Natalie Portman, Kristen Stewart, Ellen Page, Mia Wasikowska, Keira Knightley, Olivia Thirlby and Scarlett Johannsen have all expressed an interest in the role of the bisexual computer hacker who helps journalist Mikael Blomkvist solve a mystery surrounding the Vanger family and an age old disappearance.
The book, followed by ‘The Girl Who Played With Fire’ and ‘The Girl Who Kicked The Hornet’s Nest’, form the Millennium Trilogy, written by Larsson who died in 2004 and who never saw the international acclaim for this crime series. ‘Dragon Tattoo’ in it’s original language won Sweden’s Glass Key Award in 2006 for best crime novel of the year, and won the 2008 Boeke Prize. Larsoon also won the ITV3 Crime Thriller Award for International Author of the Year in 2008.
Mulligan, who’s biggest success so far was last years Oscar nominated ‘An Education’ co-starring Peter Sarsgaard and Emma Thompson has reportedly gone as far as taking out the film’s writer and producer Steve Zallian for lunch. She can next be seen in the eagerly awaited ‘Wall Street’ sequel, ‘Money Never Sleeps’ as well as ‘Never Let Me Go’, an adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s 2005 novel.
Digital Spy reports that an insider has claimed that Fincher “is not sure if he wants to go with an actress of any note or go with an unknown”. The source added: “David’s process is very specific and private. He’s looking for authenticity and a degree of fierceness and believability capable of delivering the intensity that the part on the page calls for.”
In other casting news, Sony Pictures have reportedly offered the role of Blomkvist to past Fincher collaborator, Brad Pitt (‘Se7en’ and ‘Fight Club’) and are waiting for his reply. For those who know the story, the age difference between the two main characters is quite large and Lisbeth is often mistaken for looking like a teenager. Therefore, for Fincher to have any sort of authenticity over the story, the male protagonist is going to visually look older than the female.
So what do we think? Mulligan and Pitt or two completely different actors in the first place? Bear in mind, this is the first remake of Fincher’s, so I just hope he does not glamourise the story the way we’ve seen so many times before in Hollywood.
