Hannibal Writer Brings Dragon Tattoo Back for TV

Sky has given the green light to a fresh television take on The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, with Steve Lightfoot, best known for his work on Hannibal, set to steer the project. The last time Stieg Larsson’s bestseller was adapted for American screens, David Fincher was in the director’s chair, and Daniel Craig starred alongside Rooney Mara. Craig’s portrayal of Mikael Blomkvist is still considered one of his most layered roles to date.

Modern Spin for a Classic Thriller

This new series is planned as an eight-parter, with production handled by Andy Harries, Charlottee Moore, and John Phillips from Left Bank Pictures, joined by Sam Hoyle for Sky, Amy Pascal, and Scott Rudin. While details are still under wraps, the show is tipped to update the story for today’s world, bringing Larsson’s characters and themes into the present day.

Larsson’s original tale follows journalist Mikael Blomkvist, who teams up with hacker Lisbeth Salander to dig into the decades-old disappearance of a woman. The upcoming adaptation is set to keep the investigative heart of the story, while also exploring issues like systemic misogyny, abuse of power, and sexual violence—topics that remain all too relevant.

It’ll bring the story into the present, grounded in the characters and investigative DNA of Stieg Larsson’s Millennium novels, with themes that carry heightened relevance today.

There’s no word yet on when the series will hit screens, as it’s still early days in pre-production. If it lands well with punters, there’s a good chance the rest of Larsson’s Millennium novels could also get the TV treatment.

Comparisons to Fincher’s Film

When Craig’s version of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo arrived in cinemas, the reaction was a bit mixed. Critics praised its faithfulness to the source material and its refusal to sugar-coat tough subject matter, but the film’s graphic content sparked plenty of debate at the time.

The film was promoted as a prestige thriller, with Craig riding high on his Bond fame. But Fincher delivered a dark, adult drama with a bleak ending, not shying away from the story’s brutality—especially the sexual violence. Over time, though, the film has built a cult following and is now often seen as one of Craig’s standout performances, thanks to its loyalty to Larsson’s book.

Lightfoot’s Challenge: Matching a Cult Favourite

Lightfoot has already shown he can handle mature, gritty material with his work on Hannibal, and he’s also working on Spider-Noir. Whether he’ll stick as closely to Larsson’s tone as Fincher did remains to be seen.

Trying to match the heights of Fincher’s adaptation—featuring career-best turns from Craig and the rest of the cast—won’t be easy. Still, with Sky aiming to put its own stamp on the story, there’s hope this new series will carve out its own place in the Millennium universe.

Keen to see how this new take shapes up? Let us know what you reckon in the comments.