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Rooney Mara wins coveted 'Dragon Tattoo' role

Posted Monday, August 16, 2010 at 1:47 PM Central
Last updated Monday, August 16, 2010 at 1:48 PM Central

by John Couture

You know, I couldn't even begin to tell you a single thing about The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. I do know that it's part of a tremendously popular trilogy of books by author Stieg Larsson and the story centers around a young woman described as a "Audrey Hepburn look-alike but with tattoos and piercings."

So, it comes as no surprise that Sony Pictures (via its Spotlight arm) is pretty high on the trio of movies set to debut with The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo on December 21, 2011. And today, they announced via their Facebook page that relative newcomer Rooney Mara has snagged the star-making role.

Those of you that enjoy horror remakes will immediately recognize Mara as the new Nancy from the Nightmare on Elm Street reboot from a few months ago. The rest of us will get our first look at Rooney in this Fall's The Social Network, which ironically chronicles the rise of Facebook to the pinnacle of the online social community mountain.

Of more interesting note though is The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo will be directed by one of my favorite directors David Fincher, who also helmed The Social Network, thus bringing this story full circle. The release from Sony also confirmed the worst kept secret in Hollywood that Daniel Craig will make use of his non-James Bond time to also star in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

Of course, given that scant description of the character, one can't help but think of a grown up Mathilda from Leon: The Professional. While my eternal flame Natalie Portman, who played Mathilda in Leon, was courted for the role in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, I'm told by a colleague that she's sadly too old for the part.

I trust my man Fincher as he's yet to let me down and I can only imagine how amazing she is in The Social Network to make him take notice enough to cast her in one of the most appealing roles to come around in a while. The Social Network hits theaters on October 1, 2010.