David Fincher‘s “The Social Network” has been praised and well, maybe not entirely loved, in many circles, but all seem to be in agreement that the film sounded unlike anything released in 2010, thanks to the pulsating and moody electronic score from Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. The Nine Inch Nails bandmates designed an aural soundscape that made the Harvard campus in 2003 feel like an alien planet, and Fincher seems gracious enough to understand Reznor was integral to that success. As a result, Reznor looks to be onboard “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.”
Reznor revealed to a New York Times livestream recording that he’s spent the last six weeks working on the score to the adaptation of the Stieg Larsson novel, and he claims that fans should expect something different than what we heard on “The Social Network” score. How do we know? Reznor apparently said it himself, claiming the score would not be an electronic one and instead would feature cellos and other string instruments. Apparently Reznor noted that this new score would be organic, “nothing would be programmed” and we’ll get to hear “his limited skills at stringed instruments.”
The audio recording is not yet online, but there was apparently no confirmation if Reznor is working again with Ross. Update: A Playlist reader who was in attendance at last night’s NYTimes conversation confirms that Reznor and Ross are working on the ‘Dragon Tattoo’ score together (Thank you, sir). 
His NIN-buddy Atticus Ross established himself quite nicely last year with a solo score to “Book of Eli,” a moody adventure soundtrack emphasizing sweeping soundscapes and expansive droning effects, mixing an electronic influence with a broad, conventional blockbuster sound. We’d love if Ross were to return, but we’d also love to see both working independently in the film score world. (New York Times Livestream via /Film)
