Stieg Larsson‘s Millenium series of novels continues to prove just how riveting its narrative remains more than 20 years after it launched with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. The books themselves are compelling in their own right, with their cinematic nature lending well to being adapted to the big screen. Noomi Rapace and Michael Nyqvist starred in a trilogy of Swedish movies, with David Fincher then adapting the narrative with Rooney Mara and Daniel Craig. A new take on the material is on the way, which has just confirmed its lead actors.
Per Deadline, a new TV series adaptation of the narrative is coming to Sky, with David Oyelowo (Silo) set to play Mikael Blomkvist and Viola Prettejohn (The Crown) set to play Lisbeth Salander. Amanda Coe (Black Narcissus), Steve Lightfoot (The Punisher, Hannibal), and Angela LaManna (The Punisher, Channel Zero) will write and executive produce the eight-episode Sky Original. Filming is expected to kick off next month.
The narrative kicks off when disgraced magazine journalist Blomkvist is offered the opportunity to redeem himself. Henrik Vanger, the head of a wealthy and affluent family, enlists Blomkvist to track down his niece that went missing decades earlier. Blomkvist partners with Salander, an abrasive but incredibly talented hacker, only for the pair to uncover years of deception, coverups, and murder. This new adaptation will reportedly dive deeper into the larger Vanger family than previous versions.
Sky scripted originals execs Meghan Lyvers said Salander and Blomkvist are “two of modern fiction’s most iconic and compelling characters, and we’re thrilled to have Viola and David bringing them to life for a new generation.”
“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is an iconic story with themes of power, corruption, justice, and violence against women that feel even more timely today,” executive producer Charlotte Moore added. “In Viola Prettejohn and David Oyelowo, we have two extraordinary actors at the heart of this adaptation and really look forward to audiences enjoying their take on these compelling and complex characters.”
Larsson wrote the first three books and, after his passing, David Lagercrantz wrote a trilogy, while Karin Smirnoff is in the middle of writing a third trilogy.
Fincher’s movie scored Mara an Oscar nomination for Best Actress, and while he signed on to direct two more movies, that trilogy was ultimately abandoned. Claire Foy took on the Salander role for The Girl in the Spider’s Web, which was directed by Fede Álvarez. Prime Video was previously developing their own TV series adaptation, but that project never took shape.
Stay tuned for details on the new The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
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