AceShowbiz -

Casting process on "The Lovely Bones" seems to go smoothly enough as filmmakers of the project have successfully enticed another top-notch talent to join in.

Variety has reported that Canadian thesp Ryan Gosling has been signed to accompany Rachel Weisz in the DreamWorks Pictures-produced drama flick and will play the father of a girl named Susie Salmon who has been murdered and watches over her family -- and her killer -- from heaven. Meanwhile, Weisz has already been billed to portray the girl's mother.

Based on Alice Sebold's 2002 best-selling novel of the same name, pic is slated to enter production this October in Pennsylvania and New Zealand for Paramount Pictures to distribute worldwide. On duty to direct is famed filmmaker Peter Jackson who will helm from the script he wrote alongside Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens, his collaborators in "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy and "King Kong."