David Oyelowo and Viola Prettejohn are set to lead a new eight-part Sky Original adaptation of Stieg Larsson's bestselling Millennium novel, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Oyelowo will play investigative journalist Mikael Blomkvist, while Prettejohn takes on the role of hacker Lisbeth Salander.
Cast and Story Details
The series brings the iconic characters back to screens, with Oyelowo known for films including Selma and Interstellar, and Prettejohn having previously appeared in The Crown. The story begins when Blomkvist is approached by wealthy businessman Henrik Vanger, who wants him to investigate the disappearance of his niece Harriet, who vanished more than 30 years ago from the Vanger family's isolated island home.
Despite the passing of decades, Henrik remains convinced that someone within his own family knows what happened to her. As Blomkvist begins looking into the case, he joins forces with Salander, a highly skilled hacker whose unconventional methods make her an unlikely but invaluable partner.
Adaptation and Themes
The pair soon find themselves uncovering disturbing secrets within the Vanger family, taking their investigation into much darker territory. The new adaptation will bring Larsson's story into the modern world, with the series exploring themes of power, secrecy, misogyny and technology. It could appeal to viewers who enjoy dark and twist-filled crime dramas such as The Capture, The Fall and The Killing.
Larsson's original novel was first published in 2005 and became a global bestseller as part of the Millennium series. The books have sold more than 100 million copies worldwide and have already been adapted for the screen. The story was previously made into a Swedish film starring Noomi Rapace and Michael Nyqvist, while David Fincher directed an English-language film adaptation in 2011 starring Rooney Mara and Daniel Craig.
Production and Release
Sky's Managing Director of Scripted Originals, Meghan Lyvers, said Lisbeth Salander and Mikael Blomkvist remain two of modern fiction's most memorable characters, adding that the team was delighted to have Viola Prettejohn and David Oyelowo take on the iconic roles for a new generation. She said the creative team, led by Reinaldo Marcus Green and Left Bank Pictures, aims to stay true to what audiences love about The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo while giving its characters, mystery and themes a fresh, contemporary setting.
Charlotte Moore, Executive Producer and CEO, Left Bank Pictures, said: “We are incredibly proud to have assembled a world class creative team to reimagine Stieg Larsson's masterpiece for a modern audience. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is an iconic story with themes of power, corruption, justice and violence against women that feel even more timely today.” She added: “In Viola Prettejohn and David Oyelowo, we have two extraordinary actors at the heart of this adaptation and really look forward to audiences enjoying their take on these compelling and complex characters.”
The eight-part series will be available on Sky and NOW in the UK and Ireland, as well as Sky platforms across Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Austria.
