Yesterday we reported that Mark Wahlberg had replaced Ryan Gosling in Peter Jackson’s big screen adaptation of The Lovely Bones, just hours before the movie began production. The full details of why the last minute change was made, had not been revealed, until now. According to the Los Angeles Times, Gosling’s weight gain was too much for the Lord of the Rings director.
Gosling showed up to start work “looking like he’d donned a fat suit.” The actor had told Jackson that he was going to “gain some weight to age himself up to play the part,” but the result was far from expected.
“Jackson was still expecting some movie star allure - not paunch and a beard.”
New York Post’s Page Six has a different take, claiming that Gosling’s demanding and controlling attitude led to the actor’s replacement. According to the gossip column:
“‘Peter couldn’t stand Ryan,’ said one source. Though Variety reported that Gosling had “stepped down” and was replaced by Mark Wahlberg, our source said, ‘Ryan cut his own hair, and was fighting with wardrobe. He was so demanding . . . Peter booted him two days before filming started.’”
Gosling is a great actor, with a lot of potential, but it seems like he’s letting the critical acclaim get to his head. A director directs, and an actor acts.
October 23rd, 2007 at 12:54 pm
This all seems a little weird to me. Let’s wait for an official statement.
October 23rd, 2007 at 1:06 pm
the official statement is “creative differences”
October 23rd, 2007 at 1:59 pm
Yeah, well, for what it means :)
I meant : « Let’s wait for an official interview on Entertainment Weekly. »
October 23rd, 2007 at 2:11 pm
This has confused me even more. Can’t imagine a director rejecting an actor’s planned weight gain so… vehemently?! And I sure as hell don’t trust the NY Post. Something’s still funky, keep us updated.
October 23rd, 2007 at 2:16 pm
Ha. Wait for Entertainment Weekly. That made me smile.
October 23rd, 2007 at 2:24 pm
A director directs, and actor acts.
Exactly! In making a film, you have to have a role. For an actor, your job is to give a great performance and trust the director. You cannot take control over someone else’s job. There’s a reason why screenwriters never write in camera angles into their screenplays. That’s what the DP and director focus on only.
October 23rd, 2007 at 2:44 pm
I hate to say this, but I think it’s Peter Jackson’s loss. Mark Wahlberg can’t hold Ryan Gosling’s jock. Seriously, it weighs a lot, because he’s really fat now.
October 24th, 2007 at 6:24 pm
peter jackson seems to be controlling and demanding, himself, which is why the lotr trilogy was so intricately detailed; why king kong was such a bloated, self-indulgent popcorn flick. if a good actor like ryan gosling wasn’t being allowed to make his own creative decisions, but then made them anyway, of course there’s going to be friction.
but why are you simply assuming that the page six take on it is the correct one? there’s two sides to the story, either of which could be completely valid; do you believe the page six article because it’s what you want to hear?
October 25th, 2007 at 9:51 am
“Gosling is a great actor, with a lot of potential, but it seems like he’s letting the critical acclaim get to his head. A director directs, and an actor acts.”
Why would you just assume that it is Ryans fault?
December 6th, 2007 at 1:44 pm
Maybe the weight gain & beard reminded Mr Jackson of his former self a bit much?