Daniel Craig and Scarlett Johansson together in one of the toughest thrillers of recent years – it could have happened. Today, Dazzling is on TV. Find out why Scarlett Johansson wasn’t allowed to be part of it.
Scarlett Johansson is one of the few actresses in Hollywood who can choose her roles – which doesn’t mean she gets every job she wants. This is proven by the casting story surrounding Dazzling. The US film adaptation of the Swedish thriller novel by Stig Larsson is on TV today.
What is Blindsight about?
David Fincher (Fight Club) filmed the US version of the first novel in the so-called Millennium Trilogy. The story centres around the investigative journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Daniel Craig), who is supposed to solve the mystery of the missing Harriet Vanger. She was kidnapped many years ago, but her uncle Henrik Vanger has received a dried flower for his birthday every year ever since: the very same gift he received from Harriet at the time.
Together with hacker Lisbeth Salander (Rooney Mara), Mikael Blomkvist starts investigating and gets on the trail of a dark secret. Apparently they are dealing with a serial killer who has been haunting the Swedish region for decades.
Disturbing thriller material was reportedly too much for Scarlett Johansson
Lisbeth Salander is the second main character in the film. The hacker has her own subplot in the thriller, in which she takes revenge on a rapist. It’s tough stuff. The character is described in the novel as unapproachable, extremely violent and ruthless, but equipped with a great sense of justice. The film stands or falls with her casting. Jennifer Lawrence wanted the role, but it was too big for her. Scarlett Johansson was also up for the role of Lisbeth Salander. She fits the role well at first sight. Her alien character in the sci-fi horror Under the Skin exudes a similar energy.
