Source:Variety

October 22, 2007

Mark Wahlberg has replaced Ryan Gosling in the Peter Jackson-directed The Lovely Bones, an adaptation of the Alice Sebold novel for DreamWorks.

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 one day before shooting began after gaining 20 pounds and growing a beard for the job. Variety says the exit is due 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.

Jackson wrote the script with his "The Lord of the Rings" partners Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens.

The film begins shooting today in Pennsylvania, where Wahlberg most recently wrapped the lead in the M. Night Shyamalan-directed The Happening for Fox.

Wahlberg also recently committed to star with Brad Pitt in the Darren Aronofsky-directed The Fighter at Paramount. That picture is expected to begin production next fall.

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