Daniel Craig is in talks to play "Mikael Blomkvist", the leading male role in David Fincher's adaptation of Stieg Larsson's crime novel The Girl with the Dragon TattooEW, Deadline, and The Wrap are all "exclusively" reporting the news, but each has the negotiation at a different stage.  EW says Sony has begun talks with Craig, Deadline simply says the sides are talking, and TheWrap says Sony and Craig are nearing a deal.  Whatever the current situation, it appears that Craig has edged out Brad Pitt, who was rumored to have the part.

Hit the jump to learn more about the book along with more details of Craig's potential casting.

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For those who aren't familiar with the book, Dragon Tattoo centers on journalist Mikael Blomkvist who recruits autistic computer hacker Lisbeth Salander to find a missing woman.  A variety of actresses, including Carey Mulligan, Keira Knightley, and Natalie Portman have expressed interest in playing Salander.

Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is the first part of a trilogy, and presumably Craig would sign for all three pictures, just as Fincher has already done.  Since James Bond remains in stasis until the MGM fiasco gets worked out, I guess he's got room in his schedule.  Craig has a big 2011 coming up with Jon Favreau's Cowboys & Aliens, Jim Sheridan's Dream House, and Steven Spielberg's The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn.  Oh, and Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is slated to hit theaters in December 2011.  Keep in mind that Craig's last film was 2008's Defiance, and since he's a great actor, I'm happy to see him in plenty of movies (and I'd like to see him do at least one more Bond film before he ages out of the role).