Though Spike Jonze has not directed a movie since finally getting Where The Wild Things Are out back in 2009, he’s kept himself busy, making shorts, helping out with other films (Jackass 3, for instance) and even squeezing in the odd small acting job (like his brief cameo in Moneyball). But 2012 will see him back calling the shots for a much bigger project, with Rooney Mara now in final talks to replace Carey Mulligan in his latest, untitled film.

This being an original Spike Jonze production, there’s naturally some mystery as to what it’ll be about, though Variety’s report mentions a man falling in love with a computer’s voice. That’s likely to be just one element of the picture, as previous mentions of the film have included talk of scientists gathering to discuss catastrophic events.

Mara will join a cast that already includes Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams and Samantha Morton. She’s certainly racking up the work experience with respected auteurs, having already acted for David Fincher, Terrence Malick and Steven Soderbergh.

Those last two names represent her most recent gigs, Malick’s Lawless and Soderbergh’s The Bitter Pill. Both films are set to arrive next year. Fincher's The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo just hit DVD and Blu-ray here.