Dragon Tattoo Girl Rooney Mara Instead of Gossip Girl Blake Lively in Side Effects

Once upon a time, Gossip Girl actress Blake Lively was rumored  to star in a new thriller called The Side Effects. Now Lively is out and Rooney Mara,  The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, is in.

This isn’t the first major change for the upcoming Steven Soderbergh-directed project. The Bitter Pill was a previous title for the picture that seems to have settled on the name The Side Effects instead. The film’s main character is Emily Hawkins, a young woman who begins taking prescription drugs in order to cope with the news that her husband is being released from prison.

Now, in the first casting headline for Rooney Mara since wrapping up the critically acclaimed English-language version of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, she is taking the lead role. Furthermore, according to Deadline Scott Z. Burns has penned the film’s script and Open Road will distribute the picture in U.S.

Channing Tatum will act as Mara’s husband. Jude Law will play a shrink. Catherine Zeta-Jones is also attached to the film. Shooting will start this April.

Mara has also been in the news because rumor has it Academy Award winning director Kathryn Bigelow of The Hurt Locker is looking for her strong female lead for her upcoming picture all about the hunt for Osama Bin Laden. Mara’s name was tossed around, but now I’m hearing it is unlikely she’ll sign for that particular role. When we know more, you will, too!