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Movie Preview: Peter Jackson's The Lovely Bones

BuzzSugar — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 09:40:49 -0700

If you've read the book The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold, you'll know that it's a heartwrenching, mysterious tale about family, death - and whatever comes after death. Peter Jackson's film adaptation has been a point of discussion ever since it was announced over two years ago, from the casting choices to the question of how to adapt a story like this, which regularly blurs the line between reality and the supernatural. Jackson's 1994 movie Heavenly Creatures does this very thing as well, which made him a good choice for this particular challenge.

The new trailer for the film, which opens Dec. 11, starts out tender and soft before building to a tense and chilling crescendo. Atonement's Saoirse Ronan plays Susie Salmon, a young teen who narrates the story after she's been murdered. She observes her family as they try to piece together what happened to her, and it's all a big tangle of scariness, sadness, and aching sweetness. To watch the trailer, click here.

The Kid From Love Actually Might Play Tintin!

BuzzSugar — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 07:30:49 -0700

Check out my favorite casting rumor in recent history: Thomas Sangster, known to me as Liam Neeson's son Sam in Love Actually, might be playing Tintin in the Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson project.

This is all speculation so far, and the Daily Mail is far from the most credible source, but apparently Sangster has been traveling to L.A. for "preproduction test sequences with both directors" and that "an executive who worked with Sangster in Los Angeles" told the Mail, "Thomas seems to be the one. He was just great, but I'm not certain if anything has been finalised yet." The one certain casting decision is that Andy Serkis will play Tintin's sidekick Captain Haddock.

This kid - who is now 17, if you can believe it! - couldn't possibly be more endearing. What do you think about this casting choice? Would he make a good Tintin?

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Buzz News Roundup, 1/28

BuzzSugar — Mon, 28 Jan 2008 13:30:45 -0800

Hollywood Reporter has news that Guillermo del Toro (Pan's Labyrinth, Hellboy) is in talks to direct the Hobbit films that Peter Jackson will produce.
The FCC is fining ABC $1.4 million for nudity in an NYPD Blue episode that aired more than four years ago, Zap2it reports.
According to ComingSoon, five more actors (Marion Cotillard, Channing Tatum, Giovanni Ribisi, Stephen Dorff and Jason Clarke) have joined Christian Bale and Johnny Depp in Public Enemies.
Starz is planning a TV series based on the Oscar-winning film Crash, with its writer/director, Paul Haggis, on board, TV Week reports.
Billboard reports that R.E.M. has recruited Modest Mouse and the National as opening acts for its upcoming tour.
Joel and Ethan Coen took top honors at the Directors Guild of America awards, and Mad Men and Pushing Daisies nabbed television awards, the Associated Press reports.
Julia Roberts will produce and star in Hothouse Flowers, a film adaptation of the upcoming novel by Margot Berwin, writes Hollywood Reporter.
There's another dancing reality show coming: Lifetime will air Your Mama Don't Dance, a series pairing professional dancers with their two-left-footed parents, Variety reports.

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Peter Jackson to Produce - But Not Direct - The Hobbit

BuzzSugar — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 11:29:13 -0800

The long-held disagreements between Peter Jackson and his Lord of the Rings studio New Line are being put aside as the two parties discuss their future collaboration on The Hobbit prequels to the Lord of the Rings. Jackson has agreed to serve as executive producer on the Hobbit films - but he will not direct.

There will be not one, but two prequel films shot simultaneously - similar to how the Lord of the Rings films were done. One will release in 2010 with the second one following up in 2011.

Jackson seems quite content with this arrangement, stating "I'm very pleased that we've been able to put our differences behind us, so that we may begin a new chapter with our old friends at New Line. We are delighted to continue our journey through Middle Earth." No word on possible directors, though Peter Weir and Sam Raimi have been oft-rumored names in connection with the project.

What do you think about this news? Could this continued "journey through Middle Earth" be as good without Peter Jackson?

Wahlberg Replaces Gosling in The Lovely Bones

BuzzSugar — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 04:30:00 -0700

This is pretty shocking: Ryan Gosling has suddenly dropped out of Peter Jackson's film adaptation of The Lovely Bones, in which he was supposed to play Susie's father. Mark Wahlberg stepped in to fill the role on Sunday after reading the script, and the film is still scheduled to start shooting today in Pennsylvania.

I was pretty excited when I heard Gosling had been cast in the film, and he certainly seemed committed to the role, recently gaining weight and growing a beard. Variety said only that "creative differences" caused Gosling to leave on Friday.

I'm a fan of Wahlberg - I thought his performance in The Departed last year totally made the movie, and I've been excited for his upcoming starring roles in The Happening and The Fighter. But I certainly wasn't expecting this. Can you see Wahlberg in this role? And does Gosling's exit make you worried about The Lovely Bones?

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Can You Believe Aly and AJ as Serious Actresses?

BuzzSugar — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 17:00:47 -0700

In news that made me sit up and go "Whaaaa?!" MTV Movies Blog is stating that AJ - of Aly and AJ - will be playing a part in The Lovely Bones. Apparently, AJ's character is Clarissa, the best friend of Susie, and according to AJ she has "a really emotional, intense, freaky scene with Ryan [Gosling]. It’s gonna be crazy."

Aly and AJ did a fine job in the straight-to-DVD Super Sweet 16: The Movie but can they break away from being teeny-bopper pop stars to taking on serious film roles? What do you think?

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More Lovely Bones Casting: Imperioli and Sarandon

BuzzSugar — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 11:00:38 -0700

I was trying to take a break from writing about Peter Jackson's screen adaptation of The Lovely Bones, but the cast just keeps expanding. In fact, I think we can officially start calling it "star-studded" now.

The latest news is that Michael Imperioli of "The Sopranos" has signed on to the movie. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Imperioli - who got five Emmy nominations, including one this year, during his time on "The Sopranos" - will play Detective Len Fenerman.

Susan Sarandon also has joined the cast since last I wrote, playing the character of the grandmother who moves in with the family after Susie's death. I know casting isn't all about looks, but I really can picture Rachel Weisz as her daughter.

While the pre-review of the screenplay still makes me wary, I have to say I like the way the cast is coming together. What do you think?

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Stanley Tucci Cast in The Lovely Bones

BuzzSugar — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 11:26:26 -0700

Yes, I know I've been paying a tremendous amount of attention to any and all news regarding Peter Jackson's adaptation of The Lovely Bones, but as far as book-to-movie projects go, this one is pretty important to me. So, here's the latest in the long string of casting news: Stanley Tucci is in negotiations to play killer George Harvey in the movie, says Hollywood Reporter.

When I was reading the book, I envisioned someone a little more decrepit, someone much closer to Jackie Earle Haley (who played creepy pedophile Ronnie McGorvey in Little Children). However, Tucci often has a commanding and intimidating presence onscreen (he played Nigel in The Devil Wears Prada, among others), and I can easily see him being super scary. What do you think about this latest bit of Lovely Bones news?

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Irish Actress Cast to play Susie in The Lovely Bones

BuzzSugar — Wed, 11 Jul 2007 19:11:38 -0700

Well, it looks like someone in Hollywood agrees with all of you who commented in the casting news about Rachel Weisz and Ryan Gosling joining The Lovely Bones: the girl at the center of the story will not be played by a Fanning, nor is she a mainstream name - yet. Young Irish actress Saoirse Ronan will play the difficult role of Susie, a 14-year-old girl who is raped and killed, and who narrates the story from heaven. Weisz and Gosling will play Susie's parents in Peter Jackson's adaptation of the bestselling novel.

Variety continues:

Ronan, 13, has several movies awaiting release, including Death Defying Acts, starring Catherine Zeta-Jones and Guy Pearce, and I Could Never Be Your Woman, starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Paul Rudd. This summer, she films The City of Ember.

Wow, it looks like she's working with some high-profile peeps already. In fact, in addition to the titles listed above, Ronan also recently worked on the movie Atonement alongside Keira Knightley. To see a very adorable picture of the two from the set of Atonement, read more

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Ryan Gosling Cast in The Lovely Bones

BuzzSugar — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 16:33:31 -0700

Wow!
The cast for Peter Jackson's film version of The Lovely Bones is shaping up beautifully: Ryan Gosling has just been added to the cast, joining the recently added Rachel Weisz.

Variety says:
"Based on Alice Sebold's novel, storyline revolves around a young girl who has been murdered and watches over her family - and killer - from heaven. Girl must weigh her desire for vengeance against her desire for her family to heal. Gosling will play the girl's father; Weisz plays the mother."

Wow!
Peter Jackson, Rachel Weisz and now Ryan Gosling? Sure, Gosling seems a little on the young side (ahem, 26) to have a 14-year-old daughter, but that's forgivable. I am anxiously waiting to find out who they cast as Susie. Who could do that role justice?

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