It's been quite a while since we last saw Lisbeth Salander on the silver screen, and fans of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo series have been eager to see her return. The Girl In The Spider's Web (the long-awaited sequel to Dragon Tattoo) recently took a huge step forward by tapping Don't Breathe's Fede Alvarez as its director, and we now know that a release date has officially been confirmed. All eyes are set on The Girl In The Spider's Web to move this franchise forward in a meaningful way, but now it appears that the sequel will make some serious behind-the-scenes changes by completely replacing the cast of the 2011 version.
According to a new report from THR, The Girl In The Spider's Web has officially received a release date of October 5, 2018 and not only the character of Lisbeth Salander but also the entire cast of the 2011 film will be replaced for the long-awaited sequel. This means that the search has officially begun for the newest actress to portray Lisbeth Salander. The role was originally played by Noomi Rapace 2009 Swedish version of the story, and then by Rooney Mara in the 2011 American version.
While the search for the new Ms. Salander is arguably the most important aspect that the sequel needs to get right, she's only one piece of a larger puzzle. Daniel Craig was also supposed to return to the franchise for the follow-up as Mikael Blomkvist, but he reportedly asked for a pay raise that was ultimately too high for the project's reduced budget. Portraying James Bond will do that to your paycheck expectations.
The Girl In The Spider's Web is technically a sequel to the 2011 film directed by David Fincher and exists within an established continuity. That said, the overhaul of the cast certainly makes it feel like a de facto reboot. This is ultimately helped by the fact that The Girl In The Spider's Web is not the story that immediately follows The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo; instead it is the fourth. The film series is skipping over the second and third novels in the Millennium book series and going straight to The Girl In The Spider's Web; by doing this, the films can effectively create a sense of distance between Fincher's film without actually disregarding it.
This also raises questions regarding whether or not a sequel is the best idea. The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo was not an overwhelming hit when it debuted in 2011, so it will be interesting to see how the existing fanbase responds to such drastic changes in front of and behind the camera.That said, Alvarez is a skilled filmmaker, so we have faith that he'll find the right talent. Personally, my money is on Jane Levy taking on the role of Ms. Salander, but we will have to wait and see.
The Girl In The Spider's Web will hit theaters on October 5, 2018. To find out what is hitting the schedule sooner, take a look at our 2017 movies release guide.
