THE WRAP reports that Daniel Craig is close to signing on to star in the American version of THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO. David Fincher is set to direct the remake of the Swedish crime thriller.

Based on Stieg Larsson's book, the story follows a journalist who hires a hacker to help him locate a woman missing for 40 years. Craig is up for the journalist role. Carey Mulligan, Keira Knightley and Natalie Portman have all been rumored as interested in the hacker role.

Production is set to begin in October. Sony will release the film in December 2011.

DRAGON TATTOO is part of a novel series, which also includes THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE and THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNETS' NEST.