If The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo had been the smashing success Sony hoped for, we would probably be getting the sequel, The Girl Who Played with Fire, by the end of this year. Surprisingly, audiences didn’t want to watch “The Feel Bad Movie of Christmas”, and while the film managed to gross $232 million worldwide, it was still a disappointment when you consider the $90 million budget. Sony wants to continue The Millennium Series, but the studio is carefully considering how to proceed.
Hit the jump for what the future may hold for Lisbeth Salander.
According to THR, Sony is “hellbent” on reducing the cost of the sequel. This cost reduction might mean cutting Daniel Craig, who is asking for a higher payday after the success of Skyfall (even though he’s never had a hit film outside of the Bond franchise). His character Mikael Blomkvist doesn’t factor heavily into Played with Fire, although a source tells THR that the actor wants to reprise the role. Sony is also somewhat reluctant to commission a rewrite since they paid mid-seven figures for Steve Zaillian‘s script, which is considered production ready, and the screenwriter is currently busy on the HBO series Criminal Justice.
There’s also a question of whether director David Fincher will return or not. He isn’t attached to the sequel, and last August he said he’s still “figuring out” the story. Even though he recently signed on to direct an adaptation of the hit novel Gone Girl, THR says that script is far from ready. The biggest competition for his next film is his long-in-development adaptation of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, but he and Disney can’t agree on a budget. Personally, I’d like to see him go with 20,000 Leagues since it would be completely unlike anything he’s done before.
For those unfamiliar with The Girl Who Played with Fire, here’s the synopsis of Stieg Larsson‘s novel:
Mikael Blomkvist, crusading publisher of the magazine Millennium, has decided to run a story that will expose an extensive sex trafficking operation. On the eve of its publication, the two reporters responsible for the article are murdered, and the fingerprints found on the murder weapon belong to his friend, the troubled genius hacker Lisbeth Salander. Blomkvist, convinced of Salander’s innocence, plunges into an investigation. Meanwhile, Salander herself is drawn into a murderous game of cat and mouse, which forces her to face her dark past. [Amazon]
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Not a major part of the story?! You can’t have the other two books without Blomkvist! If Sony cuts the character out, then there’s not point to make the film at all!
this film is a classic like a girl version of taxi driver, kicking a dildo up a pedofiles ass what a scene.
This movie sucked. Everyone should just walk away. No one will be upset if we never get a sequel. The story just isn’t that good. I don’t care hoe cool you film it. It’s an episode of American History Story: Asylum at best. Actually that’s giving it too much credit.
For heavens sake please speak for yourself, I for one would love to see the this made but only if Daniel Craig returns. There is no way it will work without Mikael Blomkvist.
I also want the sequel to happen. I actually loved GWTDT!
But honestly, I would only like if Rooney Mara, Daniel Craig and David Fincher are back. I always liked David Fincher’s direction, and I don’t want to see someone else messing with what he accomplished with the first film.
Were studio executives really expecting a rated R movie involving rape to gross more than $230 million world wide? It seems the problem with the film wasn’t that it underperformed so much as they over spent. $230 million is a very respectable number for a film with this subject matter even considering the talent involved.
@junierizzle
(American Horror Story)
Before trying to insult or compare a movie to anything please at least reference it correctly.
(Nimrod)
COMPLETE WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY.
I’m starting to get a little disappointed by today’s a list talent. First Johnny drop drops out of Wes Anderson’s new movie, then Robert Downey jr passes on pta’s inherent vice, and now Daniel Craig is holding up David fincher? I would imagine these guys would jump to working with the auteur directors of their time
The second book is like a Tarantino film, very pulp. The third plays out like a tightly wound clock, so many moving parts and a great ending. I would die to see Fincher, Mara, and Craig finish the series. Sony, take one for the team and shoot both at the same time.
Both books were great, haven’t finished The Hornet’s Nest but like where it’s going. Hope they get made.
Update:
Daniel Craig is not being written out. Rooney confirmed this at the Side Effects premiere and said that it was just a rumor.