Susan Sarandon Joins Cast of 'The Lovely Bones' Film

According to Variety, stage and screen star Susan Sarandon will join the previously announced Rachel Weisz and Ryan Gosling in the upcoming film version of Alice Sebold's novel The Lovely Bones.  As previously announced, Stanley Tucci is attached to the role of the killer, but has not yet been confirmed for the role.

The Lovely Bones "revolves around a young girl (played by Saoirse Ronan) who watches over her family -- and killer -- from heaven. Sarandon will play the grandmother, who comes to live with the family after the girl's murder."

As previously stated in The Hollywood Reporter, the film will feature an adapted screenplay by Jackson, Philippa Boyens and Fran Walsh, and will be produced by Carolynne Cunningham, Jackson, Walsh and Aimee Peyronnet, with Tessa Ross, Ken Kamins and Jim Wilson.  It will be distributed by Paramount Pictures.

Sarandon won an Oscar for her performance in Dead Man Walking, and was also nominated for The Client, Lorenzo's Oil, Thelma & Louise and Atlantic City.  Other screen credits include Moonlight Mile, Igby Goes Down, Stepmom, Little Women, The Witches of Eastwick, The Front Page, Pretty Baby and The Rocky Horror Picture Show.  She has been seen on Broadway in An Evening with Richard Nixon And..., as well as Off-Broadway in The Guys and A Couple of White Chicks Sitting Around Talking.

The Lovely Bones begins shooting in October, in Pennsylvania as well as in Jackson's native land of New Zealand.

Photo of Susan Sarandon by Retna Ltd.