Actress Blake Lively has stepped in to replace Katherine Heigl in Oscar winner Ellen Burstyn's new film The Age Of Adaline.

The former Gossip Girl star will portray a global traveller who stops ageing after a near-death accident in director Lee Toland Krieger's new movie.

Heigl was originally hired for the role, but has since been dropped for unknown reasons, according to Us Weekly magazine.

The movie will be Lively's first project since she took a hiatus last year (12) after marrying Ryan Reynolds.