Ryan Gosling is a major movie star, but in 2009, the actor was and recast in The Lovely Bones, and the reason may have to do with him being "too fat".
Summary
- The Lovely Bones almost starred Ryan Gosling, but he was recast and replaced by Mark Wahlberg.
- Gosling's firing was attributed to his abrupt weight gain, which deviated from Jackson's vision for the role.
- There are conflicting versions of why Ryan Gosling was recast in The Lovely Bones.
2009's The Lovely Bones almost starred Ryan Gosling in a main role, but the actor was recast for an unexpected reason before going on to become a major movie star. The Lovely Bones, based on Alice Sebold’s 2002 novel of the same name, tells the story of a young girl's brutal murder and her subsequent time in the afterlife, watching her family reckon with the consequences of her death. The movie received mixed reviews, with some critics praising The Lovely Bones' depiction of the afterlife and the central performances, while others criticized its muddled tone, which wasted the strong cast.
Indeed, The Lovely Bones' cast members, particularly Saoirse Ronan and Stanely Tucci, are often cited as bright spots. However, the movie almost looked markedly different, with Ryan Gosling originally cast in a major role. The story of Gosling's firing is a complex one, with different stories coming from the filmmakers and Gosling himself. While The Lovely Bones may not have been remembered as one of Ryan Gosling's best movies, it certainly could have changed the shape of his Hollywood career.
Ryan Gosling Was Supposed To Play Jack Salmon In The Lovely Bones
Ryan Gosling was initially slated to play Jack Salmon in The Lovely Bones, a character pivotal to the story's emotional depth. In the film, Jack Salmon is the father of Saoirse Ronan's character, Susie Salmon, and he becomes deeply engrossed in unraveling the mystery behind his daughter’s tragic murder. This role demands a strong emotional range, as Jack's character undergoes a complex journey of grief, obsession, and a desperate quest for justice. Gosling's involvement in such a film would have showcased his versatility as an actor, portraying a father’s heartbreak and relentless determination.
In terms of Ryan Gosling's career trajectory, he had already begun to establish himself as a versatile actor with the 2004 romantic hit The Notebook. The harrowing drama Half Nelson and indie comedy Lars and the Real Girl further showcased his range, moving from charming romantic leads to more complex, nuanced characters. A supporting role in The Lovely Bones would have been a noteworthy milestone. Nevertheless, Gosling's career continued to flourish. He has taken on a variety of roles, from musicals like La La Land to action crime films like Drive, proving his adaptability and commitment to challenging roles. He also played Ken in the highest-grossing movie of 2023, Barbie.
Peter Jackson Recast Ryan Gosling When Their Visions Didn't Align
There are two versions of Ryan Gosling's Lovely Bones casting story, but both end the same way. While Ryan Gosling's earlier interviews about the firing were more diplomatic, he eventually stated that abrupt weight gain was to blame. Gosling told THR that he believed the character of Jack Salmon "should be 210 pounds." To gain 60 pounds of fat, Ryan Gosling drank melted Haagen Dazs ice cream whenever he was thirsty.
Ryan Gosling ended up playing an aged, overweight father in Blue Valentine, one year later.
However, the preproduction of the ambitious fantasy drama was so demanding that director Peter Jackson barely had time to deal with the actors individually. When Gosling turned up on set having gained 60 pounds, Jackson wasn't happy. Disagreeing with how much fat Ryan Gosling had gained and the actor's vision for Jack Salmon's appearance, and lacking time to do anything about it, Peter Jackson fired Gosling. The actor commented:
"We didn’t talk very much during the preproduction process, which was the problem. It was a huge movie, and there’s so many things to deal with, and he couldn’t deal with the actors individually. I just showed up on set, and I had gotten it wrong. Then I was fat and unemployed."
Fran Walsh, a writer and producer on The Lovely Bones and Peter Jackson's partner, remembers Gosling's firing differently. In Walsh's telling, the 26-year-old Gosling became anxious that he was too young to play a grieving father. The filmmakers assured Gosling that he could be aged up with techniques like hair thinning, but the actor's discomfort allegedly became increasingly clear. Eventually, he was replaced in The Lovely Bones by Mark Wahlberg, 10 years Gosling's senior. Whichever version is closer to the truth, starring in The Lovely Bones would have changed Ryan Gosling's career trajectory considerably.
Where To Watch The Lovely Bones
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
