Odd character

"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" was adapted from the first installment of the Swedish bestselling "Millennium Trilogy". The story revolves around the investigation of a murder case that occurred decades ago, intertwining the paths of a justice-driven journalist, Mikael, and a young female hacker named Lisbeth Salander.

In the original work, authored by Stieg Larsson, the text was laced with satire and metaphor, uncovering Sweden's societal issues and exposing the dark sides of its history, society, and gender politics.

Undoubtedly, the female protagonist, Salander, is an exceptionally unique character—she's the girl with the dragon tattoo referred to in the title. The original title, "Men Who Hate Women and Women Who Kick Their Asses", highlighted Stieg's assertion that violence against women was a prevalent but largely unnoticed issue in Sweden. This led him to create Salander.

She's not only characterized by her strong personality but also by her challenging experiences. She exudes a cold, somber, and sharp darkness. Despite facing despairing situations of oppression, bullying, and even sexual assault, she doesn't crumble; instead, she stands unwaveringly and achieves her own kind of rebirth. She is not and has never been a victim.

As a mystery, "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" owes much of its popularity to the core soul of Lisbeth Salander.

This series created a significant uproar in Northern Europe, with a wide-reaching impact that even sparked a series of social repercussions. In 2009, it was adapted into a film in Sweden, becoming the highest-grossing and most successful domestic film in the region's history. It held the top spot in Sweden for eight consecutive weeks, breaking records and surpassing "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" to become the annual champion in Denmark and Sweden.

Moreover, the film garnered extensive praise at award ceremonies in Sweden and Norway.

Beyond Salander, the male lead, Mikael, is another pivotal figure. One could say that Mikael is a manifestation of the author Stieg.

In real life, Stieg was a writer and journalist who worked for the Swedish news agency. He was also involved in anti-fascist activities outside of work. Due to his long-standing efforts to expose the unlawful actions of Sweden's far-right organizations, he faced various degrees of death threats and intimidation over the years.

In the original work, Mikael staunchly defends social justice without seeking personal fame or gain. He faces personal troubles in his private life but remains resolute in the pursuit of justice. It's safe to say that Mikael embodies all of Stieg's dreams and convictions.

Stieg began writing the "Millennium Trilogy" in 2001 and completed it in 2004. Sadly, he passed away from a sudden heart attack in November of the same year, before he could see his series published or witness the reading frenzy it ignited in Europe—a heart-wrenching missed opportunity.

The Swedish version of "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" achieved massive success even on a global scale. While its $83M box office might not be remarkable in Hollywood, it broke numerous records in Europe, capturing the attention of various circles. Naturally, the United States put the adaptation on its agenda.

In the previous iteration, the American version of "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" was undoubtedly in the spotlight. It generated countless discussions from its preparation stage, eventually being helmed by David Fincher, with the male lead played by the newly appointed 007, Daniel Craig, and the female lead role taken on by Rooney Mara.

Amidst incredibly high expectations, "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" fell short of achieving the heights of "The Social Network". Media reviews averaged a seventy-one score, placing it squarely in the middle ground. At the Oscars, it received nominations for Best Actress, Best Film Editing, and three technical awards.

Undoubtedly, David Fincher is a remarkable director. His signature sharpness and precision permeate the film, infusing it with a powerful force—darker, cooler, and even more Nordic than the Swedish version. However, David's weaknesses are apparent, notably in his limited control and exploration of character development. This was evident in both "The Social Network" and "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo".

In David's version of "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo", the core feminist theme is significantly diluted, with an increase in suspense and thriller elements. The overall style remains consistent with his distinct aesthetic, yet it lacks the original's impact and depth.

In truth, the screenplay penned by Steven Zaillian provided more room for both characters, aiming to enrich and deepen their personas. Zaillian, a distinguished screenwriter known for "Schindler's List" and "Gangs of New York", showed great skill. Unfortunately, Daniel's performance was somewhat formulaic, lacking depth in his stiff and rigid portrayal. Rooney's performance, on the other hand, leaned slightly too forcefully, lacking subtlety.

In comparison, the original version maintained the European actors' characteristic finesse and fullness, surpassing the American version in both acting and character portrayal. The original's performances were more delicate and well-rounded, while David's version leaned more into style, sternness, and weakened character portrayal, thereby deviating from the original's intent. Overall, the two versions were neck and neck, but the original slightly prevailed.

This wasn't just a sentiment held by Lisbeth; it was echoed by critics. The Swedish version garnered a media average of seventy-nine, higher than the American version.

As Andy said, Mikael is a character worth delving into slowly, reflecting author Stieg's idealism and real-life struggles.

Stieg knew well how difficult and perilous it was to overcome numerous challenges in contemporary society and drive societal change. He understood that relying solely on his individual strength would be feeble under the pressure of the social machinery, constantly putting his life at risk.

Thus, Stieg endowed Mikael with unwavering determination and decisiveness, as well as inner pain and struggle. Similar to Batman in "The Dark Knight", Mikael carries darkness to achieve justice, trudging forward against all odds. This epitomizes an epic hero akin to a Greek tragedy.

In "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo", and indeed the entire "Millennium Trilogy", Mikael, while the protagonist, is often overshadowed by Lisbeth.

On one hand, Lisbeth embodies the most tragic, dramatic, and intense elements. In the first installment, she suffers sexual assault, granting the actress ample space for performance. On the other hand, Stieg positioned himself in a supporting role; he unravels clues while Lisbeth charges ahead.

Hence, Mikael's quest for prominence is undoubtedly challenging.

However, in Renly's perspective, this was a role with countless possibilities and immense potential. In David Fincher's version of "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo", the script offered Mikael more depth, emphasizing his struggles and pain—a space well worth exploring.

Renly earnestly recalled the memories in his mind and realized that whether it was the Swedish version or the American version, Mikael's image had become somewhat blurry to him. On the other hand, he had an incredibly profound impression of Lisbeth's image—both Noomi Rapace and Rooney Mara.

Renly found this to be quite interesting. He wasn't sure if he could remember more about Mikael's performances or unearth his character's depth. However, he admitted that this was an incredibly unique role.

More importantly, since Mikael reflected Stieg's self, many personal touches were added to his age and experiences. When writing, Stieg himself was already forty-six. Naturally, Mikael's physical age mirrored this, while his psychological age was even older.

This was also the biggest challenge Renly saw in taking on Mikael—even as someone reborn in another life, it remained a puzzle.

"Is this a film just anyone would want to be a part of?" Renly's response wasn't conventional either. Andy's interest in "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" was not baseless.

From the Swedish version, it was evident that the film possessed tremendous box office appeal, potentially achieving a blockbuster performance in North America like David's other work, "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button". Moreover, it harbored significant artistic potential and the ability to make a splash during award season.

The original film had stirred such a massive reaction, so naturally, the remake version would capture everyone's attention. Not to mention Andy; it was likely that half of Hollywood was abuzz.

Andy paused and chuckled. Renly's reaction was certainly unexpected. In just a brief conversation, Renly had cut through the surface to the essence—a wisdom that was genuinely admirable.

"So, have you seen the original film?" That was Andy's only thought. Renly shrugged noncommittally. Andy didn't press further; he assumed that Renly had seen it, making the explanation much simpler.

"Yes, this project is undoubtedly the center of attention. Even Roger Ebert expressed interest, not to mention the various agents. Sony Columbia Pictures really struck gold with this deal." Andy nodded affirmatively. "Paramount almost secured the rights initially. Sadly, hesitation led it to slip through their fingers."

"But now most of the focus is on the female lead. As I said, though the film has two protagonists, the weight is mostly on the female lead's shoulders. Relatively speaking, the male lead's attention is much lower." Pausing for a moment, Andy seemed to recall something amusing, a glint of mischief filling his eyes. Then, with an intrigued tone, he continued, a trace of slyness in his gaze.

"Almost all the actresses of suitable age have set their sights on this role. So, if you manage to land the role smoothly, does that not mean that you'll also get to enjoy some special benefits in the future? This might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."