Lovely Bones with Mark Wahlberg and Rachel Weisz
Based on the best selling book by Alice Sebold, The Lovely Bones is the story of a 14-year-old girl from suburban Pennsylvania who is murdered by her neighbor. She tells the story from Heaven, showing the lives of the people around her and how they have changed all while attempting to get someone to find her lost body.
The Lovely Bones is directly by Peter Jackson (who also wrote the screenplay) and stars Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, Susan Sarandon and Michael Imperioli of Sopranos Fame.
There was some shuffling of actors before the filming of the movie began. Mark Wahlberg replaced Ryan Gosling just days before shooting of the movie began. In preparation for the role, Gosling had gained 20 pounds and grew out a beard. However, he vacated the role due to creative differences. Wahlberg, who had just completed shooting The Happening, another movie shot in Pennsylvania, became available just in time to accept Gosling’s role. Helen Hunt was reportedly considered for the role of Abigail Salmon. Instead, Rachel Weisz accepted the role, and was the first actor cast in the movie.
The movie is scheduled for release on 13 March 2009 but this can change as production progresses.