<Ul> <Li> Saoirse Ronan as Susie Salmon , the main character and narrator . She is a 14 - year - old girl who is killed by her neighbor . Ronan was 13 years old at the time of her casting and filming . Ronan and her family were originally reluctant for Ronan to accept the role because of the film 's subject matter , but agreed after meeting with Jackson . <Ul> <Li> Evelyn Lennon as Susie ( Age 3 ) </Li> </Ul> </Li> <Li> Stanley Tucci as George Harvey , a serial killer who murders Susie . Tucci stated that he had researched his role by watching documentaries and reading books by criminal profiler John E. Douglas about catching serial killers . Tucci stated that his wife , Kate , had strongly urged him not to accept his role in the film because she felt , after reading the novel , that the subject matter was `` too harrowing . '' </Li> <Li> Mark Wahlberg as Jack Salmon , Susie 's father , who becomes obsessed with his daughter 's murder case . Wahlberg stated that his role in the film encouraged him to be a more cautious parent with his three children and to talk to them more about `` not talking to strangers . '' Before Wahlberg 's casting , Ryan Gosling was set to play the role but dropped out of the film in October 2007 , one month before filming . Gosling had gained weight and grown a beard for the role , but said , `` The age of the character versus my real age ( of twenty - six ) was always a concern of mine . Peter ( Jackson ) and I tried to make it work and ultimately it just did n't . I think the film is much better off with Mark Wahlberg in that role . '' Gosling later admitted that the real reason for his firing was that he had arrived for filming 60 lbs. overweight and sporting a beard , without having discussed the physical change with Jackson . </Li> <Li> Rachel Weisz as Abigail Salmon , Susie 's mother . After Susie 's murder , her mother despairs and abandons the family . Weisz stated that playing the character and the film and novel 's `` uplifting theme '' made her look at life as a `` treasure '' and the film gave her a `` positive feeling '' rather than a `` depressed '' one . </Li> <Li> Susan Sarandon as Grandma Lynn , Susie 's grandmother . Sarandon stated that her character is like a `` comic relief '' and that her character deals with the pain of Susie 's death by drinking , smoking and shooting guns . </Li> <Li> Rose McIver as Lindsey Salmon , Susie 's younger sister . She is the first to suspect that Harvey was involved in Susie 's death . Jackson cast McIver particularly because she was an unknown actress . Mclver stated that she had read and been a fan of the novel before having been cast in the film . </Li> <Li> Michael Imperioli as Detective Len Fenerman , the detective in charge of investigating Susie 's death . </Li> <Li> Christian Thomas Ashdale as Buckley Salmon , Susie 's younger brother . </Li> <Li> Reece Ritchie as Ray Singh , Susie 's love interest and friend who is strongly affected by Susie 's death . </Li> <Li> Charlie Saxton as Ronald Drake , one of the murder suspects . </Li> <Li> Amanda Michalka as Clarissa , Susie 's best friend . Michalka was better known as a musician prior to her casting . </Li> <Li> Carolyn Dando as Ruth Connors , a classmate of Susie 's . Jackson stated that , after he had searched all over the world for the role , he ultimately chose to cast Dando , a relatively unknown actress , who was working as a waitress before her casting . </Li> <Li> Nikki SooHoo as Denise `` Holly '' Le Ang , Susie 's best friend in Heaven and another of Harvey 's victims . </Li> <Li> Jake Abel as Brian Nelson </Li> <Li> Thomas McCarthy as Principal Caden </Li> <Li> Andrew James Allen as Samuel Heckler </Li> </Ul>
<Ul> <Li> Saoirse Ronan as Susie Salmon , the main character and narrator . She is a 14 - year - old girl who is killed by her neighbor . Ronan was 13 years old at the time of her casting and filming . Ronan and her family were originally reluctant for Ronan to accept the role because of the film 's subject matter , but agreed after meeting with Jackson . <Ul> <Li> Evelyn Lennon as Susie ( Age 3 ) </Li> </Ul> </Li> <Li> Stanley Tucci as George Harvey , a serial killer who murders Susie . Tucci stated that he had researched his role by watching documentaries and reading books by criminal profiler John E. Douglas about catching serial killers . Tucci stated that his wife , Kate , had strongly urged him not to accept his role in the film because she felt , after reading the novel , that the subject matter was `` too harrowing . '' </Li> <Li> Mark Wahlberg as Jack Salmon , Susie 's father , who becomes obsessed with his daughter 's murder case . Wahlberg stated that his role in the film encouraged him to be a more cautious parent with his three children and to talk to them more about `` not talking to strangers . '' Before Wahlberg 's casting , Ryan Gosling was set to play the role but dropped out of the film in October 2007 , one month before filming . Gosling had gained weight and grown a beard for the role , but said , `` The age of the character versus my real age ( of twenty - six ) was always a concern of mine . Peter ( Jackson ) and I tried to make it work and ultimately it just did n't . I think the film is much better off with Mark Wahlberg in that role . '' Gosling later admitted that the real reason for his firing was that he had arrived for filming 60 lbs. overweight and sporting a beard , without having discussed the physical change with Jackson . </Li> <Li> Rachel Weisz as Abigail Salmon , Susie 's mother . After Susie 's murder , her mother despairs and abandons the family . Weisz stated that playing the character and the film and novel 's `` uplifting theme '' made her look at life as a `` treasure '' and the film gave her a `` positive feeling '' rather than a `` depressed '' one . </Li> <Li> Susan Sarandon as Grandma Lynn , Susie 's grandmother . Sarandon stated that her character is like a `` comic relief '' and that her character deals with the pain of Susie 's death by drinking , smoking and shooting guns . </Li> <Li> Rose McIver as Lindsey Salmon , Susie 's younger sister . She is the first to suspect that Harvey was involved in Susie 's death . Jackson cast McIver particularly because she was an unknown actress . Mclver stated that she had read and been a fan of the novel before having been cast in the film . </Li> <Li> Michael Imperioli as Detective Len Fenerman , the detective in charge of investigating Susie 's death . </Li> <Li> Christian Thomas Ashdale as Buckley Salmon , Susie 's younger brother . </Li> <Li> Reece Ritchie as Ray Singh , Susie 's love interest and friend who is strongly affected by Susie 's death . </Li> <Li> Charlie Saxton as Ronald Drake , one of the murder suspects . </Li> <Li> Amanda Michalka as Clarissa , Susie 's best friend . Michalka was better known as a musician prior to her casting . </Li> <Li> Carolyn Dando as Ruth Connors , a classmate of Susie 's . Jackson stated that , after he had searched all over the world for the role , he ultimately chose to cast Dando , a relatively unknown actress , who was working as a waitress before her casting . </Li> <Li> Nikki SooHoo as Denise `` Holly '' Le Ang , Susie 's best friend in Heaven and another of Harvey 's victims . </Li> <Li> Jake Abel as Brian Nelson </Li> <Li> Thomas McCarthy as Principal Caden </Li> <Li> Andrew James Allen as Samuel Heckler </Li> </Ul>
who plays mr harvey in the lovely bones
who plays mr harvey in the lovely bones
Stanley Tucci
Stanley Tucci