Rooney Mara won’t play Lisbeth Salander in ‘The Girl in the Spider’s Web’

Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey

I saw the original Swedish movies for the Millennium series before I saw David Fincher’s English-language remake. The Swedish movies starred Noomi Rapace as Lisbeth Salander, and I think Swedish producers made the films – The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest – back-to-back on smaller budgets (compared to Hollywood). The Swedish films were big hits in Sweden and around the world and seemingly ushered in a new era of Scandinavian noir. Noomi became an international star. But when it came time for the English language version, a lot of people shrugged. It wasn’t that Rooney was BAD as Lisbeth, and while Daniel Craig wasn’t my idea of Mikael, he was okay and pretty sexy. The first and only English-language film barely broke even, mostly because David Fincher spent WAY too much money on the production.

Still, there were some hopes that Fincher and Rooney Mara would reunite to complete the original trilogy. Then the estate of the late author Stieg Larsson authorized another writer to write a fourth book based on the characters and Larsson’s notes – the Millenium trilogy was always planned as a ten-book series, but Larsson died under mysterious circumstances – and that fourth book was successful. The fourth book was The Girl in the Spider’s Web, and it picked up a few years after Lisbeth and Mikael’s adventures in Hornet’s Nest. I read Spider’s Web. It was okay. The guy who wrote it doesn’t have Larsson’s sense of outrage and anger so it felt a lot less political and a lot less personal. Anyway, long story short (sorry about all this backstory!): American producers are going to make The Girl in the Spider’s Web. But not with Fincher and not with Rooney Mara.

At long last, Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist will be back onscreen: Sony will release The Girl in the Spider’s Web on Oct. 5, 2018. Production on Spider’s Web — which Sony Pictures confirms will be directed by Fede Alvarez (Don’t Breathe) — will begin in September.

There will be, according to Sony, an “entirely new cast,” and a “global search” for a new Salander. In David Fincher’s 2011 The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, Rooney Mara played the autistic hacker and Daniel Craig played Blomkvist, the investigative journalist. In a statement to BuzzFeed News, Alvarez wrote: “I’m hugely excited and grateful for this opportunity. 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.”

Sanford Panitch, president of Columbia Pictures, said in a statement: “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. Modern punk defiance personified, she is unforgettable in every incarnation, truly one of the most compelling characters we’ve seen in recent years.”

Fincher’s Dragon Tattoo did well at the box office, especially for a movie with a hard-R rating due to graphic violence (a brutal rape). It grossed $230 million worldwide on a $90 million production budget. Mara was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress. But Sony wanted to reduce the cost of producing the franchise, which would have been unlikely with Fincher, Craig, and Mara.

[From Buzzfeed]

I agree that Dragon Tattoo is the most straight-forward story, and even though I read all of the books, it was difficult to follow all of the threads in the second and third Swedish movies. That being said, if producers had been really jazzed about Fincher and Mara’s work, they would have found a way to make the trilogy. This just says to me that Columbia Pictures weren’t actually that jazzed about Fincher’s inflated budget. Also: Noomi Rapace was and is the definitive Lisbeth Salander. Rooney tried, but Noomi was Lisbeth. So who should play the new Lisbeth? This is going to suck so hard. I know I’m probably going to hate whomever they choose. Please, God, don’t let it be someone like Allison Williams or Emma Watson or, like, Emma Stone. I could see Ellen Page… MAYBE.

(Also, The Girl in the Spider’s Web finally introduces Lisbeth’s fraternal twin sister Camilla Salander, who is supposed to be one of the most beautiful, evil and seductive women in the world. Who will be cast as Camilla???)

Vanity Fair Oscar Party - Arrivals

Photos courtesy of WENN.

You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

67 Responses to “Rooney Mara won’t play Lisbeth Salander in ‘The Girl in the Spider’s Web’”

Comments are Closed

We close comments on older posts to fight comment spam.

  1. Chaine says:

    I don’t understand why Noomi can’t be Lisbeth in the English language films since she speaks perfectly good English and has already starred in English language films.

    • Whyme says:

      To add on to this I don’t understand why people just don’t watch the original movies with Noomi and leave it at that.

      • QQ says:

        HERE!! Exactly, I don’t understand what these producers and really the American Public says by as a whole agreeing to do/view sh!t like this and Redoing Let the Right One In or Ugly Betty or Oldboy or Infernal Affairs or Ju-on or Skins is like: Nah- we’re too lazy for Subtitles too prudish for nudity and too simple for subtext

        Also I Find it super laughable cause Ya’ll remember how EXTRA they were being about Dour Rooney Aloof Mara Transformation and she had to keep wearing black and no Brows for a Year?? For this LMFAO

        ALSO : Is probably cause of the Fincher/mara Affair rumors and all that weird pedantic Pygmalion crap they were pulling in interviews and such.. maybe she grew up

      • Adrien says:

        They are also remaking Train to Busan. To be fair, the Hollywood version of The Ring is better than the original.

      • Myrto says:

        Well I don’t understand this weird snobbishness from Americans (who NEVER watch foreign films) who suddenly all claim they prefer the Swedish movies. The Swedish movies were mediocre. David Fincher is an actual director and imo Rooney was FANTASTIC as Lisbeth. Noomi Rapace played her too intimidating. The point of Lisbeth is that people underestimate her because she looks inoffensive. That’s exactly how Rooney played her and that was the right call.

      • Don't kill me I'm French says:

        QQ: It Is because of Daniel Craig’s salary that Fincher didn’t make the other movies.
        Craig wanted to double his salary to work on the second movie ( FTN: Rooney was paid something like $125,000/250,000 to work on Dragon Tatoo and Craig $6,000,000)

      • Whyme says:

        Myrto, way to lump all Americans together to state we don’t watch foreign films. 🙄 I’d write back more to you but I’m in Paris and I’m too busy trying to lace up my fat white sneakers with my camera getting in the way as my husband is asking if anyone speaks American and where the closest McDonalds is so we can get a good meal. Stereotype much? And suddenly? It’s been said since they started discussing making the films on this side of the pond. So calm down.

        Personally, it has always been that things I’ve watched elsewhere for the most part I’ve liked the original and didn’t see why they had to do an American version or why they insist on making a series go on too long. Granted, there are some movies and shows that are redone and I like them more but for this Lisbeth movie I preferred the original.

      • Chaucer says:

        I really dislike the Swedish movies. I felt like Noomi was too brash and the films felt a bit too tv. Rooney was fantastic and I thought Fincher’s film was superior. Different strokes and all.

        I think Alicia Vikander as Lisbeth would be great, but she’s almost too pretty. Eva Green would be a great Camilla. Anya Taylor-Joy would be a wonderful Lisbeth, but she might be too young for this film.

      • Nike says:

        @Whyme

        **laughing**

        This made my day. Now, I’m gonna go saddle up my horse, dust off my Bible, and listen to some Toby Keith – ’cause, what else does one do, when they’re from Texas?

    • Annetommy says:

      Totally agree, it should be Noomi.

      • Myrto says:

        @Whyme: it’s a generalization but it’s true Americans as a whole don’t watch subtitled movies. It’s a fact. If you do that’s great but you’re in the minority. So it’s weird to me how everyone seems to prefer the Swedish movies even though David Fincher’s version was much better. I don’t care if there’s a remake for a film as long as it’s good. And a remake doesn’t mean people can’t go and watch the original movie.

    • ShinyGrenade says:

      She was a bit too old, tall and muscular to play Lisbeth.
      I love her, she was great in the Swedish version, but in the books, she is that tiny little thing that look like a teenage doll, and she was pretty young, 21-22?

      So Rooney Mara as actually closer to Book Lisbeth.

      But as this book happens a few years after the first books, Noomi would be perfect now.

    • Original T.C. says:

      Agree with @QQ
      +100000000

      Rooney Mara changed her entire personality, the way she dresses, her facial expressions on Red carpets and dropped from a size 5/6 to size 0 permanently after playing Lisbeth. She even kept the nipple piercings according to her. So she’s been living as this character all these years waiting to do the sequels.

      P.S. She agreed to the lower paycheck the same reason Marvel actors do. She was virtually unknown compared to the other actors auditioning and was being given a chance due to Fincher talking her up after The Social Network. The role was going to blow her up to the public for life and she will get hired easier for other roles between sequels. It was a career making role and she knew it.

  2. IndifferentCat says:

    Noomi is Lisbeth and the Swedish films can’t be beaten, so why are they even trying?

  3. Mia4S says:

    Rooney Mara is really upset about this. Seriously, I saw her face almost change expression. Almost.

    • minx says:

      Lol I was just going to say something along those lines.

    • Don't kill me I'm French says:

      You could watch her movies before writing about Mara.She Is really a good actress.She is fantastic in Carol ,Aint Them Body Saints,Her ,Social Network or Lion for example

  4. M.A.F. says:

    It was a chore to get through the third book (didn’t he die as they were editing?). Still haven’t seen the American version and more than likely won’t. This remake was unnecessary. Plus, I had no idea a fourth book came out.

  5. Kasia says:

    Nooooo not the fourth book. It wasn’t anywhere near Larsson’s quality. How disappointing. I liked Rooney in the English movie well enough though. Noomi was better but she was still fine.

    When I read the original trilogy I totally pictured Ellen Page as Lisbeth and I like her but I’m not sure she’s a strong enough actress to handle the role.

  6. Lucy says:

    They should bring Noomi back IMO. I bet she’d love to do it again. But, should they cast someone else, maybe someone like Evan Rachel Wood could pull it off.

    • Mke says:

      I think Noomi has said a few times that she is done with this character. It took too much out of her I think. SHe was great and the 3 Swedish movies were fantastic but I guess they want to make Lisbeth like a female James Bond with rotating actresses. Not sure why they are introducing a twin sister that is never mentioned in the first books though. A sister I could understand since her father was a man slut but she would have to be from another mother

      • Lilalis says:

        The twin sister was introduced in the first books. I think in the second one that deals with Lisbeth’s past. While Lisbeth was kept in a psychiatric ward, Camila grew up in a foster family, iirc.

  7. Nik says:

    Rooney gave a better performance than Noomi.

    • elephant says:

      I liked the american version better too, dont get the love of noomi rapace. I also like the first book ok, the second and the third were so boring and unnecessarily long.

    • Scarlet Vixen says:

      @Nik: I know that’s an unpopular opinion here (most commenters on CB have a bit of an unwarranted dislike for Rooney Mara) but I agree with you. I have seen all 3 of the original films with Noomi, and the version with Rooney and I thought Rooney inhabited the role better. I couldn’t take my eyes off her, and thought there was so much more under the surface of her character. I’m disappointed that Rooney won’t be in the new film.

      • a reader says:

        I agree with both of you. I’m a huge fan of the books, saw the Swedish films and really enjoyed them, but felt Rooney absolutely embodied Lisbeth. As you say, there was so much more underneath the surface…. it was subtle but it was there and it was stunning.

      • Insomniac says:

        Agreed too. I was surprised at how much darker and more violent the American version was, but I liked it more. It felt more true to the novel to me.

      • ichsi says:

        @Insomniac This. I’m pretty neutral when it comes to who was the better Lisbeth, I liked both of them, but the American production was just the better movie. Yes it had a much bigger budget and it’s easier to leave a bigger impression with more money; yet it’s just better from a cinematographic point of view, violence and darkness included. And of course the amazing soundtrack the @lightpurple points out below.

        As for who should play Camilla: Elodie Yung!!

    • lannisterforever says:

      I’m Swedish and I preferred Rooney and the Fincher version!

    • Lightpurple says:

      I preferred Rooney’s take on Lisbeth as well. But my favorite thing of all was the soundtrack.

      • Lilalis says:

        I loved the books and really liked the swedish films, never bothered to watch Fincher’s version but your comments make me want to give it a try.

      • Don't kill me I'm French says:

        Thank to Atticus Ross and Trent Reznor ( NIN)

  8. Tallia says:

    Noomi Rapace was amazing. Much better than Mara.

  9. Adrien says:

    I have not seen the original but when I saw Prometheus I thought Rapace should have played Lisbeth in the Engish version. I thought Mara did a fine fine job but Rapace’s acting skills were just superior. She has better screen presence too.

  10. Adrien says:

    May I suggest Kristen Stewart. She fits the role.

  11. PIa says:

    We’re missing the obvious candidate here…Alicia Vikander.

    I know a lot of people don’t like her…but she is kinda perfect for the part.

    • sara says:

      she passed the role.I think it’s because she already has Tomb Raider

      • Kiki says:

        That movie is going to fail at the box office. Therefore Alicia Vikander would be an idiot to not take the role.

    • Kiki says:

      I am not surprised either, my feeling they would give it to Alicia Vikander. However like myself…. this would be an obvious choice and I am one of those people who don’t like her at all but I agree this would be perfect for her career. Even though I still think they should give it back to Noomi Rapace…… She was kick ass as Lisbeth Salander.

  12. Becky says:

    Larsson died unexpectedly: the lift was broken at his apartment complex so he climbed the stairs and had a massive heart attack. He was a 50 yr old smoker, overweight and didn’t exercise so not really surprising.

  13. Grant says:

    Didn’t Rooney get an Oscar nomination for the role?

  14. Dttimes2 says:

    How about Tatiana Maslany from Orphan Black???

  15. sage says:

    I enjoyed Finchers film but Noomi is Lisbeth.

  16. Ann says:

    I usually don’t like US remakes of Euro movies but I thought that the US remake of GWDT was fabulous and better than the original. Rooney was excellent.

    • Don't kill me I'm French says:

      Fincher version is better made.I like as Noomi ‘s Lisbeth as Rooney’s Lisbeth.
      The 3 other books are not good so I don’t care

  17. Fd says:

    I thought that finchers version was better than the Swedish version also and that Mara was a way better salander. The Swedish actress was too grim, no expression.

  18. Div says:

    Variety says they are considering ScarJo and Natalie Portman????? I actually love both of them but neither are right for the role. Tatiana would work, as would Vikander or Ellen Page.

  19. Layla Beans says:

    Am I the only one who hated the books? They were so over the top and ridiculous. And holy hell, did he need an editor. I don’t know how many times I had to read about characters eating Billy Pan Pizza from 7-11 and then all the BS about her computer’s hardware/software (which is now so out of date).

    Don’t make this movie. Let the the original Sweden ones be the movies, and move on. Ugh.

    • Don't kill me I'm French says:

      I love the first book but I hated the 2 other books.I don’t read the new book

  20. Libra girl says:

    Nooooo!!!! I loved the cast. This news stinks.

  21. senna says:

    A bit beside the point, but Rooney’s portrayal of Lisbeth coincided with her delicate-goth-ice-princess makeover, one of the most successful celebrity public image reinventions I can remember. And the whole experiment seems to have succeeded in making people intrigued with her and making directors and producers believe she is a chameleon who can reinvent herself for roles. I LOVE her post-Lisbeth style. It’s minimal and understated but intriguing.

    Noomi IS Lisbeth for me, but Rooney’s take on the character was a bit more delicate and vulnerable. If anything hampered the US production, it was the hollywood atmosphere glamming up the scenery. Blomkvist was meant to be a schlubby guy working on a four-person unglamorous team of people with frizzy hair who wear turtlenecks, breaking huge political stories on limited means, not a glossy magazine where people wear suits and look impossibly beautiful and sort of work on stories in the background. And many of the scenes, shot-for-shot, were recreations of the Swedish original film. Maybe the new film will present a more daring take on the material.

  22. Cee says:

    I love this series and I loved the swedish films (subtitles are your friends!) Finch’s was good too and I get they were trying to introduce the story to a much wider audience (people willing to go see an english speaking film vs swedish speaking film) but I wished they would hire Noomi for this new one. She IS Lisbeth. I’m curious to see who fits in as Camilla, though.

  23. DesertReal says:

    In Rooneys mind, she’s never stopped being Lisbeth.

  24. Amanda D says:

    So it doesn’t seem a sequel will be made with Rooney, Fincher, and Craig at all, ever? It’s been 6 years!!! I loved that movie. And yes I’ve see the Swedish movies too.

  25. Moon says:

    ELlen page would be great for the role…especially considering lisbeth is an LGBT character. Alicia is Swedish but that’s about it, nothing about her screams lisbeth to me.

  26. vespernite says:

    Rooney Mara is seriously lacking in personality. She is so depressing to look at. She’s a real life vampire, both sun and happiness might kill her. If she wasn’t wealthy with a famous pedigree we would never have heard of her or her sister. I do like Kate a bit.

  27. Lily says:

    Rooney Mara did a great work and she fits better the role of Salander than Noomi (who i love and did good work in the swedish movies but she didn’t fit the physical description of the character in the book). So sad she wont return, she would be great and you have Kate Mara for being cast as her pretty evil sister. Please, dont cast Vikander, her lack of charisma and range will kill the movie. I saw the swedish movies, finchers movie and i read all the books.

  28. Doodle says:

    I read all the books and have seen both the Swedish and American versions of the movie. I prefer the American version and thought Rooney’s portrayal was mesmerizing.

  29. familiard says:

    Dakota Johnson .. you know it makes sense.