Noomi Rapace cast in Ridley Scott's 'Prometheus'

(AFP PHOTO / LOIC VENANCE)

Noomi Rapace, the actress who played Lisbeth Salander in the Swedish production of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, will star in Ridley Scott's upcoming sci-fi epic Prometheus.

Initially planned as a prequel to the director's blockbuster franchise Alien, the screenplay has morphed into another, original story.

The script by Jon Spaihts ( The Darkest Hour), written with Lost co-creator Damon Lindelof, went in a different direction. Details of the project are not being revealed but speculation suggests the idea of "terraforming" - making another planet habitable when Earth is not.

In returning to the sci-fi genre closest to his heart, Scott told Hollywood blog Deadline, "Out of the creative process evolved a new, grand mythology and universe in which this original story takes place. The keen fan will recognize strands of Alien's DNA, so to speak, but the ideas tackled in this film are unique, large and provocative."

Rapace will play scientist Elizabeth Shaw, one of five main roles, with the others still to be cast, according to NME. Other actors could include Angelina Jolie and Charlize Theron, reports Deadline.

The actress is currently shooting Sherlock Holmes 2 with Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law.

Prometheus is scheduled for release on March 9, 2012.

RC