Last Thursday we got our first look at Harry Potter star Emma Watson‘s fabulous new short hair’do but today we are hearing her haircut may have been inspired by more than just a keen sense of style. According to The Sun, Emma chopped off her hair because she is trying to get the part of Lisbeth Salander in the US remake of the Swedish film The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (Män Som Hatar Kvinnor). In all honesty and as much as I love Emma, I don’t see this happening … but it does make for an interesting rumor:
EMMA WATSON’s dodgy new barnet is more than a ropey fashion statement – it’s an attempt to land the biggest vacant role in Hollywood. The actress is screen-testing for the lead in The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, based on the best-selling STIEG LARSSON novel. And just like her Harry Potter character Hermione Granger, she’s leaving nothing to chance to land the gig as computer hacker Lisbeth Salander. Emma shocked fans last week when she showed off a new pixie hairstyle. And a movie insider said: “Emma has auditioned with director DAVID FINCHER and cut her hair to look the part. “The character of Lisbeth is a misfit goth-type girl with spikey hair.” The role of Lisbeth is the biggest female role on offer in Hollywood at the moment. Whoever gets the part will be contracted to three films. So I can see why Emma’s pulled out all the stops to try and bag it. For posh Emma it would be a big contrast to straight-laced Hermione. Salander ends up in some outrageous sex scenes with men and women, including a graphic and violent bedroom scene. Emma, who is studying at Brown University in America, faces serious competition for the coveted role though. Other actresses linked to the part include ELLEN PAGE, NATALIE PORTMAN, CAREY MULLIGAN and KRISTEN STEWART.
Awww … yeah … no. While I love that The Sun is trying to make us believe that Emma Watson is “up for the role” of Lisbeth Salander, I cannot believe that she (or Kristen Stewart, for that matter) is seriously in contention for the role. The role of Salander is amazingly gritty and IMHO should be played by a newcomer. It’s a star-making role, for sure, but it is very gritty and very serious. Noomi Rapace plays Lisbeth Salander in the Swedish trilogy of films and she is absolutely STUNNING in the role. The US version of the films would be extremely lucky to find an actress who is half as talented as she is. It’s a shame that Rapace can’t be rehired to play the role again in English because for me, she IS Lisbeth Salander. But, I digress … as cute as this story is, I don’t buy it for a second. Emma‘s hair’do is still fab, tho … no question about that. What do y’all think of this report? Who would YOU like to see play Lisbeth in Dragon Tattoo?
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Trent I completely agree, Lisbeth’s character is so complex, or as you said “amazingly gritty,” that I think that most of the mainstream Hollywood actresses, regardless of talent, would not be believable in the role. It would be cheapened somehow to me…bring on a newcomer!
Natalie Portman would be outstanding, but that’s a given. I wouldn’t mind seeing an up-and-coming star take it though.
I completely agree that Lisbeth should be played by a newcomer. I also agree that Noomi Rapace did an amazing job in the Swedish version of the film. Why can’t they rehire her? I will have a hard time believing anyone else in the part.
@Kim G — I don’t know that Rapace can do the English script.
@Amanda i hadnt thought of natalie portman… i agree that she would be amazing. i love her as an actress and she always does outrageous things for her movies.
I only see Noomi Rapace in this role. She IS Lisbeth Salander. I can’t imagine anyone else playing her.
Natalie Portman seems like an obvious choice and for good reason too but she doesn’t cute Fincher’s requirement of being at least 24 years old or younger. I think Ellen Page just auditioned for the role too even though Fincher considered her too well-known to be Lisbeth but that aside I think Ellen Page could be a great fit. Rumour is that if she can nail the accent, the role might be hers.
I read somewhere that Noomi doesn’t want it. That the role was so demanding and draining the first time around…….
Yes, on the DVD version of the Girl Who Played with Fire, there is an interview with Noomi – she speaks English quite well and is quite vehement that Lisbeth is behind her and she will not play her again. Because they filmed all 3 Swedish films in a row, it was a lot to take for her, and it sounded like she has put the whole ordeal behind her.
Here’s a snippet of her interview if you are intrerested:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AjjoS9Bx8qY
@Nicole — Thanks for the clip! That makes total sense :)
I really don’t see Natalie Portman in the role, tbh. I love her as an actress and think she’s got great depth, but I kind of feel like any time a serious movie role is discussed her name is brought up just because she’s respected. She’s just not right for this particular part.
@ Trent – if I recall, the entire interview on the DVD is about 10 min long. Worth renting on Netflix to check out, esp if you want to see the movie again (maybe after you read the book!) :-)
NO WAY should Noomi do the US Version… cause there shouldn’t be a US version at all. Full stop!
Europe don’t adapt US films to there taste, why should the US. It’s a shame they will most likely kill this series of films and books cause the big fat CEOs in Hollywood want something less critically acclaimed to make up some box office cash!
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It’s happening to Let the Right One In aswell… shame!
But I really like Emma Watson, she such a talent. Even though she has really only acted in films, live-action wish, in Harry Potter. She really stands out, out of everyone!
I do wanna see her in other roles and a role as tough as this would prove herself really to the world.
Although I do like the rumours of Ellen Page aswell, I know she could do it after Hard Candy.
Not a fan of Noomi Rapace – not at all like I pictured Lisbeth. Too muscular, not small enough build. While reading the books I just kept picturing Ellen Page with a short haircut and lots of make up, a la Hard Candy. Never seen Emma Watson outside role of Hermione…not sure she has the acting shops to carry off Lisbeth.
I don’t really believe this story either but I can see why Emma might be linked with the role. Now the HP films are behind her she will want to make the move from child actor roles into adult roles which she’s been unable to do whilst contracted to play Hermione. The role of Lisbeth however does seem a drastic way of doing this.
I agree that there is no need for remakes. The original is superb and I doubt any of the actresses named could own the role in the way that Noomi Rapace did.
I totally agree… Emma is NOT right for the role. I don’t think any of the names I’ve heard so far are right for Lisbeth. We need a gritty newcomer who the audience can’t attach to another character whether it’s Hermione, Juno, or Bella… yuck, all bad!
Seriously, no one could play the role as well as Noomi Rapace did. I don’t even know why they’re bothering making American re-makes. Are Americans incapable of reading subtitles or something?
All the actress up for it are too pretty and not nearly the right kind of talented. They have to find a no name that is amazing. But I’m sorry to say the American version has no hope of being good the are trying to ride the coat tails of the sweedish.
Noomi wasn’t what I had pictured while reading the books either. I imagined a much smaller, skinnier and fragile-looking girl. However she did a great job and is a lot closer to the Lisbeth I had in my head than Emma Watson could ever be. As for Natalie Portman – hell no! Natalie is a descent actress but not the right girl for the role.
I haven’t read the books yet but Noomi did AMAZING in the swedish version! Of the potential contenders, if Noomi couldn’t do it, then Natalie Portman totally has my vote.
I really dont think Emma Watson would have gone for such a role. for one it doesnt suit her, and just cos she cut her hair, which she probably couldnt do for years because of her role as Hermione, doesnt mean she was going for the role, it just means that she wanted to have short hair. Just like I cant believe Kristen Stewart went for the part either! And if they both did, they would both be much to wrong for the part