Stellan Skarsgård joins 'Dragon Tattoo' remake

Stellan Skarsgård could be joining Daniel Craig in David Fincher's upcoming "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" remake, which Steven Zaillian wrote based on the popular Swedish film by Niels Arden Oplev.

That film is based on Stieg Larsson's novel. Variety says Skarsgård will play one suspect in the 40-year-old disappearance of a teenage girl. Craig is playing the lead, a journalist named Mikael Blomkvist.

Skarsgård, who starred in "Angels & Demons," has roles in the upcoming flicks "Thor" and Lars von Trier's "Melancholia." Fincher's next film is the Facebook drama "The Social Network," out Oct. 1, 2010.

Ridley Scott to direct 'Red Riding'

Ridley Scott may direct Columbia Pictures' remake of the U.K. miniseries "Red Riding," based on four David Peace novels. Oscar-nominated screenwriter Steven Zaillian is in talks to write the screenplay.

Variety says the series focuses on police corruption surrounding the investigation of the disappearance on a group of young girls. The compressed remake will be set in the U.S. rather than Britain.

The last U.K. miniseries to hit the big screen as a remake was "State of Play," a film I really enjoyed, even though I haven't seen the original series yet.

Scott is currently in post-production on "Robin Hood." He also directed "Body of Lies" and "American Gangster," which Zaillian wrote. Zaillian is working on "Moneyball."

Hervé Villechaize biopic on the way

Steve Zaillian and Mandate Pictures are getting together to produce “My Dinner With Herve,” a biopic about late French actor Hervé Villechaize, according to Variety.

Villechaize is best known for his role as Tattoo in “Fantasy Island.” He also appeared as Nick Nack in the 1974 James Bond adventure “The Man with the Golden Gun.”

Sacha Gervasi, who was the last person to interview Villechaize before the actor’s suicide in 1993, will write and direct the project.

“His is the story of a unique misfit trying to find his place in the world," Gervasi told Variety.  

Zaillian is best known for penning the script for Steven Spielberg’s “Schindler’s List.” His writing credits also include “Gangs of New York” and “American Gangster.”

As for Gervasi, he co-wrote the screenplay for “The Terminal.” His directorial debut “Anvil! The Story of Anvil” collected the audience award for best documentary at this year’s Los Angeles Film Festival.

Scorsese, De Niro reunite for ‘Paint Houses’

Martin Scorcese is set to direct Robert De Niro in “I Heard You Paint Houses” for Paramount Pictures, according to Variety.

Based on the book by Charles Brandt, the film stars De Niro as Frank “the Irishman” Sheeran, a mob assassin who’s believed to have carried out 25 murders. The trade says the title refers to mob slang for contract killings, and the resulting blood splatter on walls and floors.

Oscar-winning screenwriter Steven Zaillian (“Schindler’s List,” “American Gangster”) will adapt, while Scorcese, De Niro and Jane Rosenthal will produce.

Scorcese most recently directed the awesome Rolling Stones concert flick “Shine a Light.” He just wrapped principal photography for “Shutter Island,” a mystery thriller starring Leonadro DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo.

De Niro was last seen in Jon Avnet’s “Righteous Kill.” He will next star in Barry Levinson’s comedy “What Just Happened?,” followed by “Everybody’s Fine.”

I sure welcome the news of Scorcese and De Niro returning to action together. Plus, De Niro definitely needs a good movie.