Sony Pictures’ “The Girl in the Spider’s Web,” the sequel to the Oscar-nominated “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo,” will debut in theaters on Oct. 5, 2018.

Fede Alvarez, the director of “Don’t Breathe,” will helm the film, which will feature a brand new cast.

According to insiders, Natalie Portman and Scarlett Johansson, who costarred in 2008’s “The Other Boleyn Girl,” are among the actresses in the mix to play Lisbeth Salander as Alvarez begins meeting with talent. Johansson vied for the role that eventually went to Rooney Mara in the first film. However, that was due, in part, to director David Fincher’s involvement, so it’s unclear if the interest level is still as high.

“I’m hugely excited and grateful for this opportunity,” Alvarez said. “Sony has become family to me and I can’t think of a more thrilling project to celebrate our relationship. Lisbeth Salander is the kind of character any director dreams of bringing to life. We’ve got a great script and now comes the most fun part — finding our Lisbeth.”

Steven Knight and Alvarez & Jay Basu penned the script. Scott Rudin, Søren Stærmose, Ole Søndberg, Amy Pascal, Elizabeth Cantillon, Eli Bush, and Berna Levin will produce; the executive producers are Anni Faurbye Fernandez, Line Winther Skyum Funch, Johannes Jensen, and Fincher. David Beaubaire is overseeing for the studio.

Penned by David Lagercrantz, the new book will be the first in the best-selling series to be produced into an English-language film in its initial adaptation. The previous books in the series have been adapted into Swedish-language films, and “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” was a remake of the Swedish film. It became a global hit for Columbia Pictures, taking in over $230 million worldwide.

The announcement was made Monday at the London Book Fair during a celebration for the fifth Millennium book launch, also by Lagercrantz. Sony’s Columbia Pictures retains the rights to all future Millennium Series books.

“In all of contemporary literature, Lisbeth Salander is completely sui generis — probably one of the greatest female literary characters of all time in my view. Modern punk defiance personified, she is unforgettable in every incarnation, truly one of the most compelling characters we’ve seen in recent years,” said Sanford Panitch, president of Columbia Pictures. “David Lagercrantz’s brilliant work in continuing this remarkable series honors Stieg Larsson’s masterpiece. We at Sony are so honored to be part of this series with Yellowbird, and we’re so excited to be making an original film of ‘The Girl in the Spider’s Web.’ Fede Alvarez is the perfect choice to direct. Fede is an amazing director with a unique vision of the world. In particular, his talent and skill in creating psychological intensity will bring Lisbeth Salander back into popular movie culture with a roar.”