Amazon is reportedly developing a TV series around Lisbeth Salander. According to Variety, the show will not be a sequel or continuation of the books or movies. Instead, it will feature a completely new story, setting, and characters.
The project is very early in development. As of writing, Amazon has not cast an actress as Salander nor has it signed any writers. Founder and CEO of Left Bank Pictures, Andy Harries, will executive produce along with Rob Bullock. Harries has worked on shows like Outlander and The Crown. Bullock’s credits include Cinemax’s Strike Back and mini-series The Night Manager, for which he received a Primetime Emmy nomination.
Lisbeth Salander first appeared in Steig Larsson’s crime novel The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. The Swedish author wrote two sequels, The Girl Who Played With Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest, before he passed away in 2004. However, they were all published after his death. David Lagercrantz continued writing for the character and has released three books so far: The Girl in the Spider’s Web, The Girl Who Takes an Eye for an Eye, and The Girl Who Lived Twice. The series has sold more than 100 million copies combined worldwide.
Amazon won’t be the first to bring the book character to life. Larsson’s original trilogy of books was adapted into a trilogy of Swedish films starring Noomi Rapace (Prometheus) and Michael Nyqvist (John Wick). David Fincher directed an American adaptation of the first book in 2011. It starred Rooney Mara (Carol, Kubo and the Two Strings) and Daniel Craig (Knives Out, James Bond series). Mara was nominated for an Oscar for her portrayal. Fede Alvarez (Don’t Breathe, Evil Dead remake) directed an adaptation of Lagercrantz’s first novel, The Girl in the Spider’s Web, in 2018. It starred Claire Foy (The Crown, Unsane) as Salander.