So, when can we expect the David Fincher-directed, Rooney Mara-starring remake?

I clearly jest, but it’s reported that Dragon Tattoo‘s Niels Arden Oplev and Noomi Rapace will get back together as director and star for Dead Man Down, which will also be led by Colin Farrell. The project is being sold by IM Global at this year’s American Film Market; Neil Moritz is producing through Original Films, as is writer J.H. Wyman for Frequency Films.

Farrell will be playing “Victor, right hand man to an underground crime lord in New York City who is seduced and blackmailed by Beatrice (Rapace), a crime victim seeking retribution.” Shooting on the film will begin in early 2012, making a release toward the end of next year a real possibility. At the same time, they could try and take advantage of the success seen by action films in the beginning of the year, so don’t be surprised by a slot somewhere around February 2013.

Here’s where some conflict comes in for me: I wasn’t too big a fan of Oplev‘s Tattoo, but Rapace‘s performance in it was rather excellent. No matter if her work there was the result of his direction or her pure talent, I still didn’t like his movie all that much. That, as you can imagine, will make me hesitant toward something else of his — but maybe being free from Stieg Larsson‘s pulp will grant him some freedom. Dead Man Down sounds like a somewhat standard action romp, but something fun, should it arrive, would always be welcome. We’ll just have to wait and see.

Read the press release below (via Deadline):

“Los Angeles, October 28: Leading independent financing, production and sales company IM Global will fully finance DEAD MAN DOWN, to be produced by Neal H. Moritz’s Original Film and screenwriter J.H. Wyman of Frequency Films, it was announced today by IM Global founder and CEO Stuart Ford and Moritz.

Niels Arden Oplev (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) will direct the $30 million action thriller, which stars Colin Farrell (Total Recall, Horrible Bosses, Miami Vice, S.W.A.T.) and Noomi Rapace (Prometheus, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows).

Moritz (The Fast and the Furious franchise, I Am Legend, XXX) will produce alongside screenwriter J.H. Wyman (Fringe, The Mexican). Original’s Ori Marmur will executive produce with Reid Shane of Frequency.

Following the cinematic phenomenon The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, director Oplev and leading lady Rapace reunite for another thrilling tale of vengeance, with Colin Farrell joining the prestigious team as Victor, right hand man to an underground crime lord in New York City who is seduced and blackmailed by Beatrice (Rapace), a crime victim seeking retribution. Their intense chemistry leads them spiraling into payback delivered in violent catharsis.

DEAD MAN DOWN, a powerful action thriller and portrait of two people caught in the crosshairs of revenge, is scheduled to start shooting in early 2012.

Moritz comes off the back of a busy year, mounting the high profile films, 21 Jump Street and Total Recall, which also stars Farrell, for Sony; Jack the Giant Killer for Warner Bros., and R.I.P.D. for Universal.
In addition to directing the original version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Oplev also directed CBS’ Unforgettable pilot episode which received a full season pick up. Oplev is represented by ICM and Curtis Brown in the UK.

Writer and producer Wyman currently serves as the executive producer and co-show runner of Fox’s hit series Fringe. He previously wrote and produced The Mexican starring Brad Pitt. He has since created several television shows, including Keen Eddie.

Rapace starred as Lisbeth Salander to much critical praise in the original Millennium trilogy (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest). The films have garnered her many accolades. She is upcoming in Sherlock Holmes: Game of Shadows as the female lead opposite Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law and is the lead in Ridley Scott’s highly anticipated film Prometheus releasing in June 2012. She is represented by Magnolia Entertainment, UTA, and attorney Howard Fishman.

Said Ford, “DEAD MAN DOWN is a terrific script and we’re thrilled to be in business with a producer of Neal’s caliber and such high profile talent as Niels, Colin and Noomi.”

Said Moritz, “I could not be any more excited about DEAD MAN DOWN and the team we have assembled. Joel Wyman has written a terrific script, Colin and Noomi are perfect casting and Niels is a truly gifted filmmaker. My partners at IM Global and I look forward to delivering a terrific action thriller to the marketplace.”

How does Dead Man Down sound, based one existing information? Did you like Oplev’s Dragon Tattoo?