Rooney Mara: 'I'm still involved in Girl with the Dragon Tattoo sequel'

Rooney Mara was surprised to learn Alicia Vikander had been linked to the main role in a sequel to The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, because she is still attached to the franchise.

Mara starred as Lisbeth Salander in David Fincher's 2011 film, based on the late Stieg Larsson's book of the same name, and she was expected to reprise her role in a sequel.

She cast doubt on the probability of the movie coming to fruition earlier this year (15), saying, "I'm sad never to do it again, but it just doesn't seem like it's in the cards", and reports surfaced earlier this week (begs09Nov15) suggesting producers Scott Rudin and Amy Pascal are now moving forward with a new Larsson project, The Girl in the Spider's Web, with the Ex Machina beauty Vikander as their leading lady.

However, Mara admits the casting is news to her.

"As far as I know, I'm doing it until someone tells me otherwise," she laughs to Eonline.com. "I'm doing it unless someone tells me that I'm not - and then I still might do it!"

Sony Pictures bosses, who are developing the new film, have yet to comment on the planned project, which will be adapted by Steven Knight.

The Girl in the Spider's Web, the fourth book in Larsson's Millennium series, was written by David Lagercrantz following the Swedish author's death in 2004.

Director Fincher and Mara's co-star Daniel Craig are not expected to return for the new installment.

The original Swedish adaptation of Larsson's 2005 book, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, starred Noomi Rapace, who also appeared in the original two sequels, The Girl Who Played With Fire and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest.