Peter Jackson & Team Are Considering 'The Lovely Bones' As Their Next Film (1 Viewer)

Variety is reporting that Peter Jackson and his Rings partners, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, are eyeing on The Lovely Bones as their next project after King Kong. Based on the bestselling novel by Alice Sebold:


This will be a special effects free film for Jackson who had always wanted to do one after the Rings trilogy. Maybe, this will satisfy Susan Sarandon.

~Edwin

Haha.

It is good to hear they are eyeing a smaller film for the future. Still, I really want them go back to doing their own material.

Interesting story - thanks for the heads up Edwin.

Honestly, I'd be more excited by this than I would The Hobbit. This reminds me a little of Heavenly Creatures, and I think PJ would do it real justice.

He doesn't need to satisfy Susan anymore He won.

Looking forward to hearing more about this!

Take care,
Chuck

Petes's got good taste.

great book, highly recommended.

I don't get it. What's with Susan Sarandon? Did she not like LOTR or something?

How can it be special effects-free when, so I've heard (I haven't read the book), at least part of it takes place in heaven?

I'm first in line for anything he does.

Josh, the Mystic River team continually touted how their movie didn't have to rely on special effects. I think now their snarkiness bit them on the ass. Ha!

Well, I'm still waiting for Bad Taste 2....

This sounds interesting though - more interesting than his King Kong remake which I just can't get excited about.

Looks like Dreamworks has picked this film up. Steven Spielberg even has some nice words to say about Peter Jackson.

http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=20229

"When you read an emotionally magical story that cries out to be turned into a major motion picture, you hope its winding path can find its way to the door of your own company," said Steven Spielberg. "Peter Jackson has made this possible and I am so grateful to him, Fran and Film 4 for giving 'The Lovely Bones' a home at DreamWorks."

"Alice Sebold's story affects readers in deeply personal ways and the most important consideration for me was finding a studio partner who felt an equally strong connection with the book. Not just in sharing our emotional reaction to the story, but our desire to see it told in an original, adventurous way on screen," said Peter Jackson. "I eagerly look forward to the days and months ahead with Stacey, Steven, Adam Goodman and the team at Dreamworks."

I read this book a couple of years ago and loved it. I knew that Jackson had bought the film rights, so I'm glad to see that this project is moving forward.

With an October start date, DreamWorks is probably looking to position this one for a fall '08 release. Expect a big Oscar push from the studio for this one. With Jackson's last four films being gigantic spectacles, it will be nice to see him tackle a more intimate story.

I actually think Dakota Fanning would be a good choice for the narrator, though I could understand why her reps wouldn't want to get near that subject matter again after the "Hounddog" fiasco. She's the right age now, and her narration for Spielberg's "Taken" was that perfect balance between heavenly omnipotence and troubled innocent.

Jackson is said to already have two people in mind for the roles of the dead girl and her killer. With filming starting in October, expect DreamWorks (Paramount) to make announcements soon as to who will be filling out the cast.

For what its worth, I also think Dakota Fanning would be a great choice for the lead.

Time to resurrect this thread. The new trailer is out:

http://www.apple.com/trailers/paramount/thelovelybones/

I'm genuinely excited for this one now.

As am I. Good trailer for a challenging film. Loved the book, and very anxious for this film. This is a pretty unique story.

Basically, what I said over 5 years ago

Yesterday I think I had this thread open with the same link to the trailer Bryan just posted, but I obviously never clicked submit. *worried he's losing it*

The trailer does a great job of showcasing how well the story fits Jackson's sensibilities; Heavenly Creatures Jackson, though, not LOTR Jackson. I love how the "in-between" Heaven is portrayed; beautiful and majestic, but decayed and creepy in the spots that have been blotted by Susie's unresolved murder. Like a less polarized and less intense iteration of the afterlife from What Dreams May Come.

Is this Saoirse Ronan's first picture since her Oscar nom in Atonement, or was City of Ember in between? Either way, great choice since she does both innocent and forelorn very well. Since I think Stanley Tucci looks like everybody's creepy neighbor to begin with, I thought he wouldn't have to switch it up much for this but he definitely did. His George Harvey is the image of the mugshot of a sex offender from the news.

Look for Ronan (and possibly Tucci) to receive an aggressive Oscar push from DreamWorks and Paramount.

Originally Posted by Adam Lenhardt
Yesterday I think I had this thread open with the same link to the trailer Bryan just posted, but I obviously never clicked submit. *worried he's losing it*

Click to expand...

No, I absolutely saw your post linking the trailer. When I came in just now and saw that it was Bryan who had posted it, I did a doubletake.

Edit: Heh. It's another thread:

http://www.hometheaterforum.com/forum/thread/273140/peter-jackson-directing-the-lovely-bones-starring-mark-wahlberg#post_3592742

Now how did that thread suddenly end up in SD-DVD? Mostly I've come to terms with this forum software, but every once in a while the quirks throw me through a loop.

Thanks for restoring my sanity, Greg!

Sorry guys, I probably would've linked to the more recent thread if I had found it. Didn't think to look across the entire forum