Sky unveiled adaptation of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo earlier this week
Banijay has started legal proceedings against Sony Pictures Television over Left Bank Pictures’ recently revealed drama based on Stieg Larsson’s Millennium novels, Broadcast International has learned.
The eight-part series, which was unveiled by Left Bank and commissioner Sky on Tuesday, is based on the first book from the trilogy, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
Billed by the pay-TV giant as a “bold and contemporary” re-imagining, the adaptation will be grounded in the characters and DNA of Larsson’s Millennium novels, which have sold more than 100 million copies globally.
However, it is understood that Banijay has started arbitration with Sony over the show, claiming that it holds series adaptation rights to the acclaimed novels.
Banijay-owned Swedish producer Yellow Bird was previously behind an adaptation of the novels in 2010 titled Millennium, which was commissioned by SVT. It ran as a six-part TV show and was made available as three standalone films via theatrical release.
That show was based on the three novels that make up the trilogy: Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire, and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest.
Sony, meanwhile, had previously started developing a film adaptation of the Girl With the Dragon Tattoo in 2009, with the feature starring Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara debuting in 2011.
It was produced by Sony’s Columbia Pictures, alongside MGM, Scott Rudin Pictures and Yellow Bird.
Banijay and Sony are believed to now be in discussions over rights for the Left Bank series, which has Behind Her Eyes’ scribe Steve Lightfoot and The Haunting of Bly Manor writer Angela LaManna attached to write.
Andy Harries, Charlotte Moore and John Phillips are set to exec produce for Left Bank Pictures, and Sam Hoyle for Sky.
Production on the Sky version had been set to begin in Lithuania in spring.
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo follows journalist Mikael Blomkvist and computer hacker Lisbeth Salander as they investigate the 40-year-old mystery of Harriet Vanger’s disappearance from the island owned by her powerful family.
When the duo link Harriet’s disappearance to a series of grotesque murders from 40 years ago, they begin to unravel a dark and appalling family history.
The Left Bank series had been due to become available on Sky in the UK, Ireland, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, and Austria. Sony Pictures Television plans to handle international distribution with pre-sale efforts already underway in the US.
Banijay and Sony declined to comment on the news.
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