As a devoted admirer of Saoirse Ronan’s illustrious acting career, I find myself constantly amazed by her ability to bring characters to life with such depth and emotion. One of my favorite anecdotes from her journey is undeniably her experiences working on “The Lovely Bones.
Actress Saoirse Ronan, known for her Academy Award-nominated performances in movies like Lady Bird, Brooklyn, and Little Women, recalls an instance when a well-known actor was let go from their project just days before filming began on the thriller film The Lovely Bones. Initially, Ryan Gosling was set to portray Ronan’s father in the movie, despite their age difference of only 14 years and Gosling being 27 at the time. However, director Peter Jackson made the sudden choice to dismiss Gosling from the production. The reason behind this decision seems to be related to… some unconventional aspects of his acting method?
Title character Susie Salmon, portrayed by Ronan, is a 14-year-old schoolgirl who meets an unfortunate end at the hands of an unidentified assailant. In a limbo realm referred to as “The In-Between,” Susie strives to provide solace for her loved ones and simultaneously works to help uncover the identity of the perpetrator responsible for ending her life so brutally. The film adaptation was derived from Alice Sebold’s novel, which shares the same title and blends elements of supernatural drama.
On October 7, during an episode of the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast, Ronan talked about her two upcoming films (“The Outrun” and “Blitz”). She also shared insights on making “The Lovely Bones.” Interestingly, she formed a connection with Gosling since he was cast as her character’s father, Jack. However, at the last moment, Jackson chose not to have Gosling play the role because Gosling had chosen to put on 60 pounds for the part and grow a dense beard. This decision stemmed from Gosling’s concern about appearing too young for the role. Ronan shared her thoughts on this:
As a movie enthusiast, let me confess that I found myself deeply touched by Ryan Gosling and his canine companion, George. The thought of their absence left me feeling quite melancholic. Yet, I acknowledge the reasons behind their separation were undeniably justified. I’ve had the chance to converse with both Ryan and Jackson, and it’s simply a part of life – things don’t always align perfectly. If you catch my drift, it’s not about personal conflict, but rather moments when our paths diverge. It’s like flipping through pages in a book, sometimes we’re on the same chapter, other times we aren’t.
When the opportunity for the character Jack arose unexpectedly, Jackson started looking for another actor who could convincingly play the part. Mark Wahlberg (known for his roles in ‘Pain & Gain’ and ‘The Departed’) stepped up to the challenge, even though he had limited time to prepare. Ronan comments: “Mark was able to step into the role because he is a father of, let’s say, around three children. Ryan, who was 27 at the time, didn’t have as much experience in that area as Mark did.
‘I Had Gotten It Wrong. Then I Was Fat and Unemployed’
Initially, “The Lovely Bones” movie didn’t receive positive critical acclaim, which might have dampened Ryan Gosling’s confidence as he was let go from the project just before filming began. To add insult to injury, a satirical Twitter account named “Fat Ryan Gosling” also surfaced around that time. However, things drastically changed for Gosling in 2011 when he starred in several critically acclaimed films such as “Blue Valentine,” “Drive,” and “Crazy Stupid Love.” Today, he stands as one of Hollywood’s top-tier stars, gracing the screen in movies like “Barbie,” “The Fall Guy,” and “La La Land.” Yet, it wasn’t always smooth sailing for Gosling; back then, he had to face more challenges. In 2010, when the film was released, he spoke about his dismissal from the project with The Hollywood Reporter, saying:
In our initial vision for the character, we had a distinct perception that he should be quite large, specifically weighing around 210 pounds. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much communication during the pre-production phase, which proved to be a challenge. Given the magnitude of the project and the multitude of tasks at hand, it was difficult for him to address each actor individually.
One possibility for paraphrasing could be: Gosling’s dismissal might have played a role in Paramount Pictures repeatedly adjusting the release date for The Lovely Bones. Despite being helmed by the creator of the blockbuster Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Lovely Bones did not perform exceptionally well at the box office. Although it earned more than its production cost, the expenses related to marketing and production delays quickly consumed any profit generated by the film.
Though it earned just one Oscar nomination for Stanley Tucci’s performance as serial killer George Harvey, the film did not resonate with critics. They appreciated Jackson’s depiction of an authentic 1973 setting, but found the narrative to be confusing. Initially, The Lovely Bones was marketed towards a younger demographic. However, the mature themes within it were better suited for adult viewers.
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2024-10-14 05:03