Filmmaker Peter Jackson fired actor Ryan Gosling from movie Lovely Bones because he was "too demanding", according to reports.

It was alleged Gosling "stepped down" from the movie and was replaced by Mark Wahlberg - but Jackson in fact axed the 26-year-old, reports New York gossip column, PageSix.

A source says, "Peter couldn't stand Ryan."

"Ryan cut his own hair, and was fighting with wardrobe. He was so demanding... Peter booted him two days before filming started."

The Lovely Bones, the movie adaptation of Alice Sebold's bestseller, also stars Rachel Weisz - and will be released next year.