Can Daniel Craig Not Be Returning For THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE?

Is it possible to have a GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO sequel without its main star?

The Hollywood Reporter is reporting that after the massive success of the latest James Bond entry, SKYFALL, actor Daniel Craig is now commanding a much larger salary for any future movies.  That includes Sony’s possible sequel to DRAGON TATTOO, THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE.

As a result, Sony is reportedly now trying to find a work around for Craig, whether it be getting a different actor in the role, or just rewriting the story to exile him altogether.

While the first option is definitely a possibility (even though it would be jarring not to have Craig, the move has been done many times before in many different sequels), the second is almost out of the question, seeing as how character Mikael Blomkvist still is vital to the storyline.  The only question is after DRAGON TATTOO’s lackluster box office results, would the financially strapped studio want to even take a risk by not bringing a main star back for a second go-around?

Only time will tell…

THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE picks immediately after the events of THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO, and follows Lisbeth Salander as she returns to Sweden after spending a year abroad. She falls under suspicion of having committed the murder of a journalist and his girlfriend as well as her guardian, Nils Bjurman. Mikael Blomkvist has to do what he can to find her before the authorities do.