Ryan Gosling unexpectedly bailed out of Peter Jackson’s “The Lovely Bones” drama at the last moment and has been replaced with Mark Wahlberg.

Academy Award nominated actor Ryan Gosling had reportedly gained 20 pounds and grown a beard for his role as a grieving father in the Peter Jackson-directed adaptation of the Alice Sebold novel for DreamWorks.

Committed as he seemed to this project, Gosling stepped out one day before shooting was scheduled to start, reports Variety, suggesting that the 26-year-old left over creative differences.

While Gosling made his exit Friday and Mark Wahlberg signed to replace him Sunday, after reading the script, the trade paper reports. He joins Academy Award nominated actress Rachel Weisz, who plays the grieving mother.

The story is that of a young girl who is murdered and then watches over her family and her killer from heaven, per Variety. Jackson wrote the script with Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens.

Shooting reportedly began Sunday in Pennsylvania, making “The Lovely Bones” the first collaboration between Wahlberg and Jackson.

Wahlberg recently wrapped filming in the M. Night Shyamalan-directed “The Happening” for Fox. He stars alongside Zooey Deschanel in the sci-fi thriller scheduled for a Friday, June 13, 2008 release.

Wahlberg, nominated this year for an Academy Award for best supporting actor due to his portrayal of a police detective in Martin Scorsese's critically acclaimed thriller, “The Departed,” has also signed to star alongside Brad Pitt in “The Fighter.”

Directed by Darren Aronofsky for Paramount, the film is expected to begin production next fall. Variety previously reported Brad Pitt will join the biopic of the famous Irish-American boxer Mickey Ward, with Wahlberg portraying the one-time World Lightweight Champion, while Pitt will play Dicky Eklund, his older half-brother.

Scott Silver, of “8 Mile” fame, is reportedly working on the latest draft of the screenplay Wahlberg is reportedly already training to get into shape for the role. “The Fighter” is scheduled to begin production next fall.

Ryan Gosling currently stars in “Lars and the Real Girl.” He was nominated for an Academy Award this year as best actor for his work in “Half Nelson.”