Daniel Craig Takes the Lead in 'Dragon Tattoo' – Plus 'Fire' And 'Hornet's Nest'

Daniel Craig has closed his deal to star in Sony's "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo," plus the two potential follow-ups that will be based on author Stieg Larsson's best-selling trilogy.

David Fincher is on board to direct the adaptation, which Steve Zaillian is writing and Scott Rudin is producing.

With all development and production on the next James Bond film recently halted by producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson in the midst of MGM's endless financial rstructuring, Craig needed a new job. The Larsson trilogy provides him with another franchise to nurture until Bond can unholster his Walther.

The CAA-repped actor is currently filming the DreamWorks sci-fi actioner "Cowboys & Aliens" for a July 2011 release. Later that year, he will appear -- in motion-capture form -- in Steven Spielberg's "The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn," but his acting work is completed. Craig also has the Universal thriller "Dream House" wrapped.

Paramount will release "Tintin" December 23, just two days after Sony has "Tattoo" scheduled to open.

Music Box Films is in the process of releasing the original Swedish-language film adaptations in the States. "Tattoo" has grossed $9.6 million in the U.S. and $92 million internationally. The second film, "The Girl Who Played With Fire," has grossed $2.9 million in the U.S. since its release earlier this month; it grossed $51 million internationally.

"The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest" is scheduled to be released later this year.

– The Hollywood Reporter