Daniel Craig to portray Mikael Blomkvist in U.S. film version of 'The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo'

British actor Daniel Craig will take on the role of Mikael Blomkvist in the U.S. film version of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, the first book in Stieg Larsson's bestselling Millennium series. Craig will begin work on the movie in Sweden in the early fall, after he completes his current film, Cowboys and Aliens.

Daniel Craig photo by NYTrotter. Creative Commons
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Mike Fleming revealed the choice of the James Bond film star as Blomkvist on Deadline.com on July 26, 2010. Fleming added that Craig's arrangement includes options for him to also appear in film versions of the next two books in Larsson's trilogy, The Girl Who Played With Fire and The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets' Nest.

David Fincher will direct the U. S. adaptation of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, which already has a release date – December 21, 2011.  Scott Rudin will produce the film for Sony Pictures. Steve Zaillian is its screenwriter.

Fleming also reported that Fincher and Rudin are now involved in casting the coveted role of Lisbeth Salander, the asocial young computer hacker at the center of Larsson's trilogy. Actresses in contention for the role include Ellen Page, Mia Wasikowska, Emily Browning, Sara Snook,  Rooney Mara and Sophie Lowe.

Currently, U.S. audiences can view the Swedish-language film adaptations of the first two novels in Larsson's trilogy, which have been released by Music Box Films. The Swedish film version of Larsson's concluding novel, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest, will be available here later in 2010.