David Fincher set to tackle The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

With the Swedish release of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo hitting the Uk screens this week, it appears it is already in line for an English translation, with David Fincher reportedly in line to direct.

The story, based on late author Steig Larsson’s novel, revolves around the 40-year-old disappearance of a favourite niece, to aged tycoon Henrik Vanger. Journalist Mikael Blomkvist is enlisted by Vanger, and joined by computer hacker Lisbeth Salander, who is intrigued by the mystery as she investigates Blomqvist as a preliminary to his hiring. As the investigation progresses, they find themselves pursuing multiple serial killers.

Sony inked a deal for the English translations late last year, with Scott Rudin set to produce, and American Gangster scribe Steven Zaillian charged with producing a first draft. Now, according to NY magazine Vulture magazine, David Fincher is linked with the project. By delighting Sony Executives with The Social Network, the story about the founders of Facebook, the project is Fincher’s to refuse.

Of course, some will speculate the need for such a conversion. Especially given the fact that Director Niles Arden Oplev’s incarnation: ‘Man sam hator kvinnor’ (Men who Hate Women), released to critical praise.

But, the tantalising spectre of such event would be, of course, the inclusion of David Fincher. After all with Seven, Fight Club, and The Zodiac on his resume, Fincher is no stranger to murky-thrillers that endeavour towards shades of grey.

Fincher, it appears, is a man on a mission of late, with the Variety reporting that Pawn Sacrifice is another project linked with the director. Pawn Sacrifice is a biopic of American Chess Champion Bobby Fischer, depicting the period of his rise up to the ‘Cold War’ championship battle in 1972, against Boris Spassky.

But, that’s not all. We reported only last week that Fincher is attempting to resurrect his 3D animated anthology, Heavy Metal. With James Cameron and Zach Snyder already reported to be onboard the project.

MATT RICHARDSON