Had a feeling this news was on the way after Trent Reznor offered a cryptic response to EW’s Music Mix earlier this week on the question of whether he was teaming up with director David Fincher again for a follow-up to his Golden Globe-nominated The Social Network score. Now confirmation has arrived: Reznor and Atticus Ross are writing, performing, and recording the score to Fincher’s film adaptation to the late Stieg Larsson’s novel The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.

In an online interview with Jon Pareles for The New York Times, streamed earlier tonight, Reznor nearly performed parts of compositions for the film, as well, but was unable to prepare due to the passing of his mother on Sunday. He did, however, reveal that whereas their previous score used mostly electronic equipment, music for The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is being performed with cellos and other stringed instruments. (Off the top of my head, Reznor’s notable past use of strings include his 2006 string quartet-backed Bridge School Benefit gig and, of course, “The Perfect Drug.”)

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, which stars Rooney Mara, the actress who played Mark Zuckerberg’s ex-girlfriend in Social Network, is set to hit theaters this December. Meanwhile, Fincher is also in pre-production for a 3D adaptation of 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, so let the Reznor rumor mill with regard to that project begin right… now.