In a story from The Hollywood Reporter, Sony Pictures is in very serious discussions to option the English-language film rights for Stieg Larsson's posthumously published crime trilogy, the Millennium Series.

Scott Rudin, who had a big hand in securing the rights, is going to produce this project.

Steve Zaillian (American Gangster) has been in several discussions to adapt the first book, "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo."

"Stieg Larsson's Millennium Series is nothing short of amazing," offered Columbia Pictures president Doug Belgrad. "The novels are very cinematically told, with fantastic characters and page-turning plots. Once you start reading, they are impossible to put down. Lisbeth Salander is one of the most compelling characters in contemporary fiction and we couldn't be more excited about bringing this project to the screen."

Larsson was a Swedish author and journalist that died of a heart attack in 2004. He had three unpublished novels in his desk. The trilogy went on to be published to wide acclaim and much interest from readers.

Niels Arden Oplev and Daniel Alfredson directed adaptations of the novels that were made for Swedish TV. Music Box Films has grabbed the U.S. distribution rights.

Sony and Rudin's versions would spawn from the original novels rather than be remakes of the Danish-Swedish films.

The books delve into the mystery surrounding the unsolved disappearance of an heiress.