Daniel Craig May be Written Out of GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO Sequels

Daniel Craig May be Written Out of GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO Sequels Lisbeth Salander might be working alone from here on out.

The Hollywood Reporter has announced that in an effort to cut production costs, Sony is prepared to write Daniel Craig's character, 'Mikael Blomkvist,' out of the remaining MILLENIUM TRILOGY films.

Production has seemingly stalled on THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE, but it was previously believed that David Finch er was hesitant to retake the helm. However, according to sources, Fincher is ready to go. Craig, however, is not.

Based upon Stieg Larsson's novels, THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO was filmed on the mega-budget of $90 million. Worldwide, the film made $233 million, even though the Swedish adaptations of Larsson's trilogy had been released only a few years prior.

Craig has signed on for the next two installments, THE GIRL WHO PLAYED WITH FIRE and THE GIRL WHO KICKED THE HORNET'S NEST, but following SKYFALL's immense success, the actor is reportedly demanding a pay raise to stay on - which the studio is less than comfortable due to the first's box office performance.

Though Blomkvist is a central character in DRAGON TATTOO, he appears much less in the second installment, making a write-out somewhat plausible.

The Hollywood Reporter also confirms that Sony has said they would rather not lose Craig, as Steven Zaillian's script is ready for production.

"Everyone wants to make the next movies happen," says an insider. "There's a great story to tell." Daniel Craig May be Written Out of GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO Sequels

The first installment, THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATOO, told the story of a middle-aged hard-nosed investigative reporter in Stockholm who loses a libel case and faces jail time. He's offered an assignment to investigate the 40-year-old disappearance of a industrialist's niece on a remote island. His work alongside misunderstood rebellious female hacker Lisbeth Salander uncovers religious killings, Nazism, incest, child abuse and murder.

'The Girl with the Dragaon Tattoo' starred Rooney Mara, Craig, Robin Wright, Stellan Skarsgård, Christopher Plummer, Joely Richardson, Goran Visnjic, Julian Sands, Steven Berkoff, Yorick van Wageningen, Geraldine James, Arly Jover, Donald Sumpter, David Dencik, Moa Garpendal, Bengt C.W. Carlsson, Mathilda von Essen and Cate Montgomery.