I have read with growing interest all the actresses currently trying their best to secure the role of Lisbeth Salander in the trilogy of movies which will be made from the incredible books of Stieg Larsson. Until I actually read the first book though I didn't think I was in a position to comment on who I think would be best. All I can say is that I hope that executives also take the time to read the books before they start casting. Here are the names of the top contenders and what I think.
Carey Mulligan - She is a good actress and out of the current contenders would probably be my favorite. I still don't know if she can play that dark of a character though.
Ellen Page - Great actress, but, I keep trying to picture her in this role and just can't.
Natalie Portman - Tied with Carey as my favorite. She could do this. I think she is the most likely to come close to what I imagine Lisbeth to be. When I read the book I imagined her more of a Milla Jovovich type, and I think Natalie could pull off that same type performance.
Kristen Stewart - I would devote myself to trashing the film on a daily basis if they did this. It is bad enough they chose Brad Pitt as the lead who is not the right choice in my opinion. If they added to that with Kristen, it would be miserable.
Keira Knightley - I can see it.
Scarlett J - not in a million years.
I have been trying to think of someone not on this list. The best one I could come up with is Natalia Tena. She plays Tonks in the Harry Potter movies.
i hated the book. but of all the actresses listed, i think mulligan is the best choice.
ReplyDeletethis girl is not beautiful---that lets portman out, IMO.
what's all the hate for kristen stewart about? i actually CAN see her in this role.
I like Natalie or Keira. Lisbeth is small, and Keira isn't though (she's tall). I think Kristen would ruin the movie.
ReplyDeleteI think it needs to be stated that this proposed trilogy is a remake. They've started making the films in Sweden.
ReplyDeleteOne of the things I love about the book is who resolutely Swedish it is. It's like the rest of the world doesn't even exist. Refreshing!
How about people watching the freakin original Swedish film and not remake it at all? I know its a novel concept, but it could be done.
ReplyDelete@Princess Shyness - AGREED! Please note that Enty! They already released the first movie in 2009 and it was great! (as good as adaptions go IMHO)
ReplyDeleteWhy does everything need an American Hollywood makeover?!? SIGH.
This makes no sense. I've heard the Swedish movies are great already.
ReplyDeleteJust finished the second and third one last week, and for an angry bitter waif I couldn't picture anyone else than Christina Ricci. I did like the Swedish actress they used for the films already.
ReplyDeleteAlso keep in mind the original title is Men Who Hate Women.
hey, once again, NO ORIGINAL IDEAS IN HOLLYWOOD!!!! nothing but remakes and sequels. it's pathetic.
ReplyDeleteI've not seen the Swedish film but I think Natalia Tena seems like a wise choise, she has strong features and I think she could do it. I'll make it a plan to see the Swedish movie.
ReplyDeleteNatalie Portman is still on my Polanski boycott list.
ReplyDeleteThe girl who playes her in the Swedish version (Noomi Rapace) is PERFECT for the role. Just perfect. And I think the only actress out of these options that can do the role any justice, in comparison to Ms. Rapace, is Ellen page.
ReplyDeleteI read two of the three books and saw the Swedish version of the movie. I think it is crap that they are doing an American version when the Swedish version is great, but since they will do it regardless of my opinion, I really hope they go with an unknown, or relatively unknown actress. I personally am very concerned that they will cast someone like Brad Pitt as Blomquist and the very thought of that makes me feel ill!
ReplyDeleteJUST DON'T REMAKE IT...LEAVE IT ALONE...THE SWEDISH FILM IS GREAT.
ReplyDeleteNONE OF THE ABOVE!!!
ReplyDeleteJust saw the Swedish version yesterday and LOVED it. I was sitting there thinking how good Blomqvist was, and how he's not physical perfection.
...and then I thought, if Hollywood did it they'd probably hire Brad Pitt to play Blomqvist.
...so last night I was looking around on the internet about it, and saw that the actor slated to play him is...BRAD FUCKING PITT!!! He could not be MORE unlike Blomqvist!!
Geez, does Hollywood have to be SO fucking predictable?? The Swedish version is terrific, and they'll murder it with the English version.
I would not see the Hollywood version to save my life. I'm just disgusted at the thought.
*sigh* I LOVE these books and will not see teh Hollywood version because I'm worried they're going to ruin it, just like everyone else says. I've heard the Swedish version is fantastic and am just trying to find time to go see it. Brad Pitt as Blomkvist? Not sure how I feel about that. I actually like him and think he's a great actor but his prettiness may distract from the character. Of all the girls listed the only one I could see playing it is Ellen Page. Salander is not beautiful. These other girls will ruin her character just based on look alone.
ReplyDeleteI almost never watch the movies of the books I love, and I loved these books. Brad Pitt as Blomqvist makes me want to throw up.
ReplyDeleteI know I might be behind the times, but I thought Brad said no and they're moving towards Daniel Craig. Did it switch back to Brad?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.deadline.com/2010/06/daniel-craig-in-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo-mix/
Ed Harris should be the lead...
ReplyDeleteAll 3 books have been made into movies in Sweden, although only the first one has been released in North America.
ReplyDeleteNoomi Rapace is the only person who could play Lisbeth Salander. And Brad Pitt as Blomkvist? PLEASE.
They're going to ruin this movie. I refuse to see it. They did a great job with The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo (although I really disliked what they did at the end)
And the fact that they didn't even translate the title correctly for the English books pisses me off too.
It's times like this that I really fucking hate Hollywood.
I really can't picture any 'known' actress in the role, but I thought maybe Michelle Williams. It has to be somebody tiny, childlike body. Keira is toooooo tall.
ReplyDeleteI really hope it's Carey Mulligan, I think if anyone can pull it off it would be her. I hope its not Natalie Portman because I don't think she is that great of an actress and as another poster mentioned she is on my Polanski boycott list.
ReplyDeleteOn second thought Ellen Page could do it... with a punk hair cut
ReplyDeleteI loved the books and since it's hollywood they will redo, redo, redo. Lisbeth is petite and I picture her a little like Tonks. It would be an amazing breakout roll for someone Mina Kunis or Emma Watson. I'd like Anne Hathaway too.
ReplyDeleteWhat's the score on Hollywood remakes of European movies? La Cage a Folles, great, American remake, suck. Swedish version of Insomnia, great, American remake, major suck. Day of the Jackal, great, American remake, major to the tenth power suck. However I am looking forward to the American remake of Let the Right One In, although I'm 90 per cent sure it will suck.
ReplyDeletelooserdude - add Vanilla Sky to the list of Hollywood remakes of European movies. It pisses me off to think of what they did to that one.
ReplyDeleteI don't know Ellen Page, but I can see Carey Mulligan in this role. Keira Knightly - no way. She's too pretty. Portman would be a casting disaster. Christina Ricci is too old for the role (the person needs to look like they're 15).
Just keep the swedish version! Noomi Rapace is perfect for the role. I won't see the American version, especially if they cast one of these women. If they are going to torture us with a remake they could at least pick someone new...let it be a breakout role.
ReplyDelete@ valerie - omg what they did to vanilla sky was DEPLORABLE! obre los ojos was AMAZING!
ReplyDeletei still havent forgiven hollyweird for that.
if they most remake this movie, i really think the HP tonks character is perfect. she has the right look. maybe even audry tattoo? (sorry cannot spell her name)
I loath Ellen Page. She snubbed Jane Fonda. What a bitch.
ReplyDeleteNone of the above, especially not Natalie Portman, who plays every part exactly the same. Or Keira Knightly. They're all really, really bad choices.
ReplyDeleteSalander needs to be played by an unknown.
Nomi Rapace!!!
ReplyDeleteI just finished the third novel..loved it. I can't see anyone in the role..except for Noomi Rapace(?)of course Hollywood will screw up the film..Ellen Page did an amazing job in Hard Candy..but she doesn't fit. Hollywood has a horrible habit of casting the young pretty thing of the moment, taking amazing pieces of work and transforming it into cream of wheat without brown suger or milk.
ReplyDeleteI thought Brad Pitt was dropped from the project and David Fincher was meeting with Daniel Craig for Blomqvist?
ReplyDelete<- Agrees with almost everyone else that the Swedish version was awesome and this shouldn't be remade stateside.
A comment about Noomi Rapace: at first I was put off because she is thin but buff and about 5'6" (I'd guess), whereas Salander is said to look anorexic, is 4'11" and 84 pounds.
ReplyDeleteHowEVER, Rapace *nailed* the facial expressions and even better, the odd way of moving that I'd have expected from Salander.
I agree that the ending was weird--it failed to set up a reason for the way Salander feels about Blomkvist at the start of The Girl Who Played with Fire, which is how Dragon Tattoo ended. So I'm looking forward to seeing how they'll handle that in the next movie, coming out July 2.
(note I'm being VERY careful to not do a spoiler here! ;-P )
By the way the Girl with the Dragon Tattoo will be out on DVD July 6 -
ReplyDeleteCurrently reading the last book and LOVED them all. It's sad that Stieg didn't live long enough to see his books published. And it's sad for us that we'll never get anymore great books from him.
ReplyDeleteI think the Tonks actress has the right look for Lisbeth, but Daniel Craig is too broody for Blomkvist.
I just noticed that Dragon Tattoo is playing at a local arthouse theater and I was so psyched - I had no idea that they were doing a Hollywood remake and I'm pissed. I haven't made it to the third novel yet, but the first two were some of the best I've read in a long time. All I can say is I'll see the Swedish version of the movies, but not the US - Hollywood screws it up each and every time.
ReplyDeleteand she's supposed to be under the autism umbrella. such an interesting character. don't want brad pitt either.
ReplyDeleteJust want to chime in and say I agree with everyone else who said that no one but Noomi Repace should ever play Lisbeth. Such did such an amazing transformation.
ReplyDeleteI can see Natalia playing Scatty in the Nicholas Flamel series I'm reading by Michael Scott. Don't know if they'll every make a movie, but she is who I pictured for Scatty as I read, but didn't realize it. I'm reading The Necromancer now. The first in the series was The Alchemist. Good Stuff.
ReplyDeletewhile reading the book, I actually did picture Tonks! For Blomkvist I pictured Daniel Craig. Looks wise, but I don't know if he'd pull it off.
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ReplyDeleteagree w/the posters who can't understand why this needs to be remade at all! There is a GREAT Swedish version of this book already. I'm actually shocked that Martin Scorsese hasn't jumped all over this remake--he loves to remake great non-US films, pretend that he did something original and great, and not give any credit to the original film makers (see The Departed!)
ReplyDeleteIf I had to cast this w/Hollywood actors I'd go with:
--Russell Crowe (yes, I know he's a douche, but he's much better an actor than Brad Pitt!) or Eric Bana as Blomkvist.
--Michelle Williams or Natalie Portman as Salander. (And say what you will about Kristen Stewart, but she's loads better than Keira Knightley!!)