One of the most widely discussed films of 2012 so far is set to receive its release on Blu ray and DVD next month. The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, the first instalment in the so-called ‘Millennium Trilogy’, adapted from the novels by Stieg Larsson, is due to be released by Sony Pictures Home Entertainment on the 20th March. The film, directed by David Fincher and starring Rooney Mara and Daniel Craig, was widely reported to have flopped at the box office, following initially slow ticket sales, but subsequently went on to make in excess of $200 million across the world – more than twice the production costs.
The success of the film in cinemas, coupled with the enduring popularity of Larsson’s novels, should ensure strong sales of Blu ray and DVD copies, making the release significant both for the home entertainment industry and DVD duplication companies. While the Blu ray release is more loaded with additional features, both Blu ray and DVD copies will feature a commentary track by Fincher, who has already indicated an interest in directing the two planned sequels.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, which had already been filmed in the author’s native Sweden, centres around the character of Lisbeth Salander (Mara) who investigates a conspiracy surrounding the forty-year old disappearance of a young woman, with the help of an investigative journalist played by James Bond star Craig. The controversy surrounding the explicit violent and sexual content of the film led to its being given an R-rating when released in cinemas.