Wahlberg to replace Gosling in Lovely Bones

Posted on October 23, 2007
Filed Under Actors, Directors, News

Today I bring you the latest update on the upcoming movie “The Lovely Bones“. I’ve posted about it here on Moviemind News a couple of times before and I was almost certain that it was smooth sailing now for the project but I was wrong, so wrong…

Variety.com reports that one day before shooting began, Mark Wahlberg stepped in to replace Ryan Gosling in “The Lovely Bones,” the Peter Jackson-directed adaptation of the Alice Sebold novel. One day before shooting…!?

Wahlberg has taken the role of Jack Salmon, the grieving father of a young girl. That role was vacated Friday by “Lars and the Real Girl” star Ryan Gosling, who stepped out after gaining 20 pounds and growing a beard for the job. Sources attributed the exit to creative differences.

After reading the script, Wahlberg quickly committed Sunday. He joins Rachel Weisz as a couple whose world is shattered after their daughter is murdered. The girl watches over her family and her killer from heaven.

The film begins shooting today in Pennsylvania, where Wahlberg most recently wrapped the lead in the M. Night Shyamalan-directed “The Happening” for Fox. It is Wahlberg’s first time working with Jackson, though the filmmaker did an on-screen stint last season on “Entourage,” the HBO comedy series Wahlberg exec produces.

Being a big fan of Ryan Gosling work, I’m a bit disappointed… I would have loved to see to Ryan in a Peter Jackson-directed movie. But then again, Mark Wahlberg ain’t too shabby…

Comments