Hugo, the new film by Martin Scorsese, is not exactly the kind of movie we're used to seeing from the director. After all, this is the guy that brought us classic, gritty films like Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas and Casino. When you think Scorsese projects, you don't think about France-set family films made in 3D. He has already lined up a few projects that may take him back to his tonal roots, with Silence, I Heard You Paint Houses, and The Gambler on his radar, but now another potential project has entered the scene.

According to Variety, Scorsese is now considering directing The Snowman, based on the novel by Jo Nesbo. While the trade says that he is in early negotiations, it also includes phrases like, "seriously considering helming the project," and "no formal offer has been made." As for the script, the report does say that Matthew Michael Carnahan, writer of The Kingdom, State of Play, and the upcoming World War Z, is in talks to write the script.

Actually the seventh book in a series, the book centers on protagonist Harry Hole, a detective living in Oslo, Norway. The story begins when Hole discovers the pink scarf of a missing woman wrapped around a snowman and begins to investigate. What he discovers is that the woman may be being held captive by a serial killer. The novel first came out in 2007 and the studio, Working Title, sees potential in it as a franchise.

The article does point on the connections between the Nesbo books and The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo (the Nordic invasion continues), but they do seem different enough that it could be interesting. Though it seems like this is far from a done deal, this would be a cool project to see Scorsese tackle.