Stellan Skarsgard and Robin Wright Join Girl with the DragonTattoo; Search Continues for Female Lead
Posted 08.10.10 by Ryan
The cast of David Fincher's adaptation of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is taking shape, even as Fincher struggles to find a female lead for the complex role of computer hacker Lisbeth Salander. Fincher has filled out two of the supporting roles, while more names have been added to the list of contenders for the Salander role.
Variety reports that Stellan Skarsgård is in negotiations to play Martin Vanger, a suspect in the mystery. Skarsgård says the negotiations are looking good.
I've met Fincher; I want to work with him; he wants to work me. I've had a concrete offer, and now we are in negotiations. The contract is for the period September to March, but I don't know yet when I am supposed to start my part of the film. Most of it is to be shot in Stockholm, but some studio work will be done in the U.S. I think there might be some location work there as well, when it becomes too dark to shoot here.
While it will be convenient for Skarsgård to shoot in his native Sweden, it means a Swedish vacation for Robin Wright, whom Deadline reports will join the cast as Daniel Craig's editor-in-chief and sometime girlfriend, Erika Berger. Wright's character is also included in the subsequent novels, and Wright is negotiating an option to appear in those as well. Sony has already tasked Dragon Tattoo screenwriter Steven Zaillian with writing the sequel, The Girl Who Played With Fire.
That leaves Fincher to cast the Salander role. While he has reportedly trimmed the contenders to a short list, with Rooney Mara and Emily Browning at the top, two other names have entered the speculation.
Entertainment Weekly report that Natalie Portman has re-entered the race for the Salander role, even after she turned down Fincher when the role was initially offered. Meanwhile, Harry Potter actress Emma Watson cut her hair short, supposedly "to look the part" for the Salander role, if British tabloid The Sun is to be believed.
One thing's for sure, Fincher will have to make up his mind soon with the September start drawing near. The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo opens December 21, 2011.