David Fincher has finally found his Lisbeth Salander.
Deadline reports that Rooney Mara has won the highly coveted and sought after role in “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo,” joining Daniel Craig, Robin Wright and Stellan Skarsgaard, ending a very long and highly publicized casting process.
Mara, who we first reported as being a candidate for the role, beat out a grocery list of big and small names for the part including fellow final candidates Sarah Snook, Sophie Lowe, Léa Seydoux, and a mix of established and lesser known names like Ellen Page, Natalie Portman, Carey Mulligan, Emma Watson, Mia Wasikowska, Emily Browning, Katie Jarvis and apparently a late run at the role by Scarlett Johansson who earlier this morning was reported as being a “shoo-in” for the part (We’re told her last minute test really impressed everyone and almost changed the game, so this report was semi-correct).
Fincher has been campaigning from day one for an unknown in the central role of the film, and prevailed with his vision for the casting. And as for Mara, she definitely seems to have impressed the director by her work in the highly buzzed “The Social Network,” hitting theaters in October.
“The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo” is a big priority for Sony and a potential franchise starter with Steve Zaillian already being sought to pen the sequel. Shooting on the film will begin this fall on location in Sweden. The film is already scheduled to hit theaters December 21, 2011.
