Heres how we got on…
How did you first become involved with the Millennium film series?
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We got a rumour from the publisher.
Our head of development heard there was something special going on.
We got the possibility to read those manuscripts, the books were unpublished…
Is this in 2005?
Yes, because Stieg Larsson, the writer, was already dead.
We read all three books in manuscript form before it was published and we liked it.
Yellow Bird specialises in doing crime, and thats our niche.
They were a very odd couple together.
We were lucky to get the rights in our negotiations, and we started developing and financing in 2006.
Did you have any prior relationship with the publishers to give you the edge in negotiations?
We didWallander, the Henning Mankell books, and also Yellow Bird did the English version.
My housemate is reading it at the moment.
Why do you think this has crossed over?
First of all, its because of the books that we can cross borders.
Did you ever meet him before he died?
No, we never met him.
The publisher did of course, but at Yellow Bird unfortunately we never did.
You mentioned Lisbeth, and shes an incredible character.
You had worked with Noomi Rapace before?
Did you have her in mind for the role of Lisbeth?
He went through a lot of girls, and he finally concluded that she was the right one.
Did you have to cut much out of two and three when turning them into the theatrical versions?
Is there anything you wished you had done differently?
I know in Germany we have had a lot of readers for many, many years.
Our prime financial source comes from Germany.
But now other countries are curious.
You have to make your own conclusions.
So people are curious to see this other side of the society, the dark side.
Thats what you read about.
So its just fiction!
I think the environment lends itself well to this kind of fiction.
I think visually as well as narratively, the isolation of Scandinavia gives a sense of oppression.
Its so remote from everything.
I dont thinkThe Girl With The Dragon Tattoowould have worked in another country.
Ah, you dont think so?
The feeling of remoteness is so strong in that book at the Vanger mansion.
It wouldnt have worked in another setting?
Thats interesting…Speaking about the big success of the films, you have the remake coming up.
How did David Fincher become involved?
So they approached him and asked if he was interested in directing this book.
He wanted to do his own adaptation, totally his own.
The world is open for Stieg Larsson.
How is it going to be different?
It is also a writer who is dead now, he cant produce anymore.
Its going to be very interesting, Im very happy about it.
So how does she compare?
Noomi did an almost iconic interpretation…
Noomi was excellent, but she was much stronger.
She was much more of a finished person and knew ways to fight back.
Rooney Mara is much more vulnerable, and this is very, very exciting to watch.
Daniel Craig and her are a very interesting couple.
Hes a great actor and when they are together and David Finchers directing, its incredible.
How do you feel about English language remakes in general?
In movies too, theres another context there.
Its a way for us to come out even further in the world with the properties we have.
Is it important for Yellow Bird to have these English language remakes?
Its a strange logic but its a win-win situation for us as now we can sell the SwedishWallander.
Will the Swedish film industry now just exist to have films remade?
Yeah, yeah, we are very happy!
Its once in a lifetime to have that experience.
It gives us opportunity.
One of our next movies at Yellow Bird is Jo Nesbs Headhunters.
That helps us everyone [anticipates] what is next from Yellow Bird afterMillennium.
There was good hype for this.
Its an exciting follow-up.
