Tatiana Siegel at The Hollywood Reporter has word on what the hold up to the sequel to David Fincher's The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo may be and it appears it's the potential Daniel Craig paycheck.
Following the $1+ billion success of Skyfall, Craig's asking price has gone up (because he's why everyone went to see that movie) and as a result, instead of paying the actor, there are rumors his Mikael Blomkvist character may be written out of the sequel. Blomkvist is not central to The Girl Who Played with Fire, but, in my eyes, a definite necessity.
Then again, perhaps they'll pull a Bourne on us, and simply use the novels as a framework for the narrative and adjust as necessary. It worked out well for the Bourne trilogy so why not give it a shot? After all, as long as Lisbeth (Rooney Mara) is there and we are dealing with her violent past and up-in-the-air future I think we have a story.
Siegel reports Craig does want to return, but sources were unwilling to comment further. Another factor to consider is that writing Blomkvist out of the story would involve commissioning a rewrite from Steve Zaillian, which in itself costs money not to mention Zaillian is currently working on the HBO series "Criminal Justice," starring James Gandolfini.
As for Fincher, he is currently looking at an adaptation of the best-selling novel "Gone Girl" as well as the long-gestating 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. I'm up for most anything Fincher is willing to bring to the table, but I really would love to see him complete the Millennium trilogy, and the idea of shifting the narrative a bit has me even more intrigued.
Here's the plot of The Girl Who Played with Fire as it currently stands:
In The Girl Who Played With Fire the second installment in the "Millennium" trilogy following The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig) is about to run a story that will expose an extensive sex trafficking operation between Eastern Europe and Sweden, implicating well-known and highly placed members of Swedish society. On the eve of publication, the two investigating reporters are murdered and the fingerprints found on the murder weapon belong to Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara).
'Before Sunrise' Location Map - Celine and Jesse in Vienna
'Blood Ties' (2013) Movie Review - Cannes Film Festival
'Inside Llewyn Davis' (2013) Movie Review - Cannes Film Festival
Cannes Podcast #2: Talking 'Inside Llewyn Davis', 'Monsoon Shootout', 'Seduced and Abandoned' and 'Jimmy P.'
Three New 'Only God Forgives' Clips
Sean Penn Reportedly Circling Paul Thomas Anderson's 'Inherent Vice'
'Blood Ties' International Trailer and Poster
Interview: Simon Pegg, John Cho and Alice Eve Talk 'Star Trek into Darkness'
'Star Trek Into Darkness' Box Office Softer than Expect, but Still #1
'Seduced and Abandoned' (2013) Movie Review - Cannes Film Festival
What I Watched, What You Watched #193
Really hope that they do write Blomkvist off. It will be quite interesting to see in which direction they go and since I think that they Dragon Tattoo sequels are quite weak plotwise, in my eyes they don't have much to lose.
I think the idea here is still to make a single movie, not two, as Fincher said last year. Weirdly, I think it can actually work...
Letting go of the next two books would work in this case. I hate it when films change actors for a particular character.
I interviewed Craig last November and he seemed extremely enthusiastic about finishing out the trilogy with Fincher. Nothing really suggested otherwise. Even though that interview was pre-Skyfall box office domination, I'd like to think that this just a rumor and the he would gladly take a smaller paycheck for the next two films.
and that he would gladly*
If he is willing to make that sacrifice, then I say keep the story going according to the books, which I loved, btw.
I, too, see Blomkvist as a necessity to the story, and I liked seeing Daniel Craig in something other than a James Bond flick. I'm torn here because I really want to see the Millenium Trilogy finished by Fincher himself no matter how he chooses to go about it, but at the same time, I really like the story as it is in the books and would like to see it portrayed faithfully as with the first film.
Either way, the last two stories deserve to be done their justice, since the Swedish adaptations of Played with Fire and Hornet's Nest were more or less atrocious.
Yes I agree that the Swedish film misses the mark in its adaptation of the last two books.
I so hope finches decides to press on with these projects.
I'd like to keep him for the second-that one is one of the stronger plots, and I would not like to see it tampered with. However, if you write Blomkvist out of the third, and tamper the plot, I think you could have a solid solid trilogy to match Bourne, or better
still, i bet that if Adele wasn't involved with the movie, Skyfall wouldn't be that successful in the box office
You honestly think that soundtracks get people to spend £8, sometimes £10 to watch a movie???
I just want to see this film...So. Much. Drama.
Agreed. Get it done, people.
Write him out. His character becomes minor and the story revolves around Lizbeth.in the last two books. Why didn't Fincher get Craig to sign on for the second movie when he hired him for the first?
Well, it is true blomkvist plays a much smaller role in Fire. But that could also make it a way for the budget to afford Craig. Shoot his parts back to back then let him go on his way. Then on with Lisbeth's the story. It could significantly reduce the budget of the film using Mara as main character. BUT is she a big enough draw to ensure the films success?
As someone whose read the books, excising Blomkvist would be a huge mistake. Sure, he's not quite as central to the narrative in book two as he was in the first but he's still a massive factor and a lot of what happens involves him at some level. Plus everything that's going on with Millenium has direct ties with him. I think it would be smarter to do a bit of recasting if need be than to drop the character. I just don't feel like Lizbeth Salander would be that interesting without her writer counterpart.
If there's any truth to this (and if they can't get Craig back) I think they should just hang it up at this point. Enough is enough. This sequel clearly isn't going to happen and I'd rather there just be one great film than 1 great film and 1 average film.
As far as I'm concerned, either get Craig & Fincher back or call it off.
Craig, Mara and Fincher NEED to be back for the sequel, if it ever happens. But, I really doubt it will.
It's so disappointing that The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo underperformed at the box office domestically. I found it to be quite an amazing piece of cinema. Dark, violent, disturbing, sexual, brutal, intense, thrilling, and ultimately, one of the best films of this decade (yes, I enjoyed it that much). I hope Fincher and the studio continues to find a way to bring The Girl Who Played with Fire to the screen.
Craig, in my opinion, was an integral part of the first film, and, from what I can tell, his character is vital to the telling of the second. Hopefully, he'll get excited enough about doing the sequel that his fee won't continue to hold things up. I mean, the film is primarily about Lisbeth. Still, people forget that the first film was about Blomquist & Salander equally. Hell, they don't even meet for the first hour of the film. If Craig holds out, perhaps recasting is in order? Maybe with an actual Swede this time.
Thems the facts
The film was a borderline performer at the box office.
I don't actually believe there's a sizeable market clamoring for the next two adaptations. The film probably wouldn't even have made as much as it did if not released over Christmas. It's an OK film but perhaps Sony is as well leaving it at that one film that can at least stand alone and work as such.
Why not just recast it?
Recasting really bothers me...
I can't stand recasting! But that's just me...
Like you Brad, I am a big Fincher fan (he may actually be my favorite director). I would love for him to complete this trilogy ( shooting 2 and 3 together preferably). On the casting front, as long as Mara is in, this project will always have potential to work.
Speaking of directors Brad, it would be cool if you could come up with a list of directors for users to vote on as the 10 best, kind of like what you are doing with the best movies of 2012. It would be interesting to see what the opinion out there is on that subject.
You thinking working directors, or of all-time? Either way, it could be an interesting subject indeed. I would put Fincher right near the top of both those lists as well.
Ooo...I like like the idea of a "favorite directors" list!
Drastic rewrites for the material could be a pretty good idea, actually. "The Girl Who Played with Fire" was still very good, in my opinion, but I thought the final installment was a disaster. It was surprisingly boring, and the plot's loose ends were tied up in comically neat fashion.
Given that, creating a new universe centered around Lisbeth Salander could be the best way for the American version to be successful.
Honestly.. Hollywood thinks half-ass backwards about marketing and Casting... Wow. First off, The movie made it's money back.. (when you include International Box office percentages and VOD, etc) Not too mention that yes, Daniel Craigs asking price has gone up bigtime because of the attention Skyfall got and the money it made.. Think about it HOLLYWOOD that means more people are now liking Daniel Craig than did before Tattoo came out so now IS the time to give him that paycheck and watch the box office for Tattoo increase.. people like him playing that kind of character and they got a load of his talent being Bond & now you decide to drop him.. You guys need better analysts seriously. Robert Downey Jr became a box office Sensation AFTER iron man.. do you really think Due Date would have made over 100 million pre Iron Man (nooooooo way) and now Sherlock, etc... think will you think.... or hire me because you guys really get stuck in the process and end up making seriously bad and potential box office failures due to that staying inside the box... good luck but if he's out I won't see it..
YEAH BRAD! STOP BEING SO STUPID!!!
Don't lay off your analysts, specifically Steve.. His hair is so dreamy...
just can the whole thing. isn't this dragon tattoo girl so yesterday's news? move on!
Definitely would like to see this movie get made with Fincher, Zallian, Mara & Craig. "Fire" is arguably a better novel than "Tattoo" & has a lot more action in it which is always better for movies (that's why they're called "move-ees" --look it up). Blomkvist has to be in it with or without Craig.
Couldn't they just get another actor to play the part? That was the norm not too long ago.
Had he been played by a black actor then the studio would simply recast him and assume no one cares.