Scarlett Johansson would probably prefer for David Fincher to stop reminding people that she lost the role of Lisbeth Salander in his movie version of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, but at least he finds creative ways to compliment her at every turn. Previously, Fincher told W that Johansson brought so much bombshell star wattage to her audition that she was like “Marilyn on a bike,” and now he tells Vogue that Johansson was the best person he couldn’t cast. “Look, we saw some amazing people,” says Fincher. “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.” True enough, apparently! And that’s why Fincher went with relative unknown Rooney Mara: “I keep trying to explain this. 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.” [Vogue]
