Was Scarlett Johansson rejected for the role of a rebellious computer hacker in the new film "The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" for being too sexy? Director David Finscher, who helmed "The Social Network," told Vogue magazine in a recent interview that Johansson auditioned for the role of Lisbeth Salander, a "superhacker" and private investigator with shaved hair and multiple piercings. The part ultimately went to "Social Network" actress Rooney Mara.
"Look, we saw some amazing people," Finscher told Vogue. "Scarlett Johansson was great. It was a great audition, I'm telling you. But the thing with Scarlett is, you can't wait for her to take her clothes off."
The 26-year-old actress and sex symbol has ironically been making headlines for having been the target of a real hacker, who is facing federal charges for allegedly snooping through and stealing data from her emails as well as those belonging to other stars such as Mila Kunis. Nude photos of Johansson were posted online last month.
"I keep trying to explain this," Finscher added. "Salander should be like E.T. If you put E.T. dolls out before anyone had seen the movie, they would say, 'What is this little squishy thing?' Well, you know what? When he hides under the table and he grabs the Reese's Pieces, you love him! It has to be like that."
"The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" is based on a Swedish novel. Salander helps Daniel Craig's character, Mikael Blomkvist, an investigative journalist, tackle a freelance assignment by an elderly businessman who wants to find out what happened to his grand-niece. Noomi Rapace played the female role in a 2009 Swedish film.
Mara, 26, had her eyebrows bleached, her hair cut short with the sides shaved and her lip, brow, nose and nipple pierced to portray her "Girl With the Dragon Tattoo" character. In an interview with W magazine earlier this year, Fischer described Salander as a "goth Pippi," referring to popular pig-tailed children's book character Pippi Longstocking.
Mara, born Patricia Rooney Mara, is a New York native and the great-granddaughter of New York Giants football team founder Tim Mara and great-granddaughter of Pittsburgh Steelers founder Art Rooney. The actress has also starred in movies such as the remake of "A Nightmare on Elm Street" in 2010 and had a recurring part on the medical drama "ER" in 2009.