New 'Harry Potter' Character Posters: Up-Close And (Scary) Personal

With the November 19 release of "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1" very quickly approaching, we Potterheads are torn between uncontrollable excitement and trepidation-bordering-on-sadness, due to the fact that this film brings us a little bit closer to the End. Of. It. All. However, conflicting emotions aside, we are happy to report [...]

Noomi Rapace, a.k.a. the original Swedish "Girl With the Dragon Tattoo," may not have landed the Lisbeth Salander role in the planned U.S. adaptation of the Millennium Trilogy... but she isn't having trouble nabbing meaty roles in other big-budget tentpoles. She's already been cast as the female lead opposite Robert Downey Jr. in "Sherlock Holmes 2," and now comes news that she's a strong candidate to play the E.T.-butt-kicking lead in Ridley Scott's 3-D "Alien" prequel.

According to Deadline, studio 20th Century Fox has also met with actresses Abbie Cornish and Carey Mulligan about the part, but Rapace reportedly left a "strong impression."

We wish we could say that Rapace -- or whoever ultimately lands the role -- will be playing a younger version of Sigourney Weaver's iconic Lt. Ellen Ripley, but, alas, that seems unlikely. Scott told Empire last year that the movie will be set roughly 30 years before the original "Alien," which would make the year 2085 and would make Ellen Ripley a zygote.

The prequel will reportedly delve into the origins of that mummified alien Ripley and co. discover in the first "Alien," and could conceivably spawn a second prequel movie (a prequel sequel).

We'd be stoked to see Rapace kick some "Alien" ass -- would you? Let us know in the comments!

Charles Mackintosh
Raphael
Jonathan Davis
Horace Pippin
Alphonse Mucha