Fede Alvarez addresses why Girl in the Spider’s Web must have a new cast

Last Updated on July 31, 2021

On Monday we got word that plans for THE GIRL IN THE SPIDER’S WEB with Fede Alvarez attached to direct would be moving forward for an October 2018 release. Though this pleased the fancies of admirers of the books and/or movies, this news came with a punch in the arm in the form of word that all of the cast from David Fincher’s GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO would be recast. I’m sure small fires have been raging inside said fans ever since, but now Alvarez has made a statement in hopes of putting out those flames, citing the decision is a matter of creative and professional integrity:

It's said that 50% of the director's work is casting. If I'd just take Fincher's (amazing) casting, I wouldn't be doing half of my job. https://t.co/IgfkK0BimV

— Fede Alvarez (@fedalvar) March 14, 2017

Rooney Mara earned an Oscar nomination for her work Lisbeth Salander in Fincher’s remake of the Swedish GWTDT (based on the first book of the Millennium Trilogy), which starred Noomi Rapace. However, the 2011 movie never earned a sequel, and now it’s been reported stars like Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson have been eyed for the role in this new film. SPIDER’S WEB is based on the fourth book, which was written as a new story outside of the main trilogy after author Stieg Larsson’s death.

Though I feel there is ample evidence out there to prove Alvarez doesn’t need to recast the movie in order to make it his own, in this case it makes sense. The studio probably went with WEB (as opposed to making movies out of books two and three) in an attempt to reboot the series instead of continue off Fincher’s take. As a result of that thinking Alvarez just wants this movie to be his own, and not be an extension of Fincher’s. I'm sure he'll find a great new Salander, though, and I would think that kicking a dildo up some dude's bum will be a part of the audition process.

THE GIRL IN THE SPIDER'S WEB is aiming for October 5, 2018.