Real Lisbeth inspired character Lisbeth Salander from Girl With the Dragon Tattoo

The American adaptation of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (directed by David Fincher) is about to hit the theaters full force December 20 (Tuesday.)

It’s already being hyped as possibly the best movie of the year (and if Fincher, Daniel Craig, and Rooney Mara gave the book by Stieg Larsson any justice, it should be,) but few people know the real story behind the fictional novel that transfixed the entire globe.