Sony has officially announced that it is relaunching the Millennium movie series with an adaptation of David Lagercrantz’s The Girl in the Spider’s Web, with Fede Alvarez (Evil Dead, Don’t Breathe) directing.
The announcement confirms that Rooney Mara will not be reprising the role of Lisbeth Salander from The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, and a global search is now underway for an actress to take over the role.
In addition to directing, Alvarez has penned the script with Steven Knight and Jay Basu. David Fincher, who helmed Sony’s English-language The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, will remain involved as an executive producer.
“I’m hugely excited and grateful for this opportunity,” said Alvarez. “Sony has become family to me and I can’t think of a more thrilling project to celebrate our relationship. Lisbeth Salander is the kind of character any director dreams of bringing to life. We’ve got a great script and now comes the most fun part – finding our Lisbeth.”
“In all of contemporary literature, Lisbeth Salander is completely sui generis – probably one of the greatest female literary characters of all time in my view,” added Sanford Panitch, president of Columbia Pictures. “Modern punk defiance personified, she is unforgettable in every incarnation, truly one of the most compelling characters we’ve seen in recent years. David Lagercrantz’s brilliant work in continuing this remarkable series honors Stieg Larsson’s masterpiece. We at Sony are so honored to be part of this series with Yellowbird, and we’re so excited to be making an original film of The Girl in the Spider’s Web. Fede Alvarez is the perfect choice to direct. Fede is an amazing director with a unique vision of the world. In particular, his talent and skill in creating psychological intensity will bring Lisbeth Salander back into popular movie culture with a roar.”
Principal photography on The Girl in the Spider’s Web is slated to get underway in September ahead of the film’s release on October 5th 2018.
Originally published March 13, 2017. Updated April 16, 2018.
