Robert Pattinson in Remember Me (Myles Aronowitz / Summit Entertainment)
The Twilight Saga star Robert Pattinson and two-time Academy Award winner Sean Penn may be joining Academy Award winner Reese Witherspoon in a Fox 2000 film adaptation of Sara Gruen’s bestselling novel Water for Elephants, according to Variety.
Francis Lawrence, best known for the Will Smith vehicle I Am Legend, will direct, while the Oscar-nominated Richard LaGravenese (for The Fisher King) will adapt the Depression-era story about a veterinary student (probably Pattinson) who, left penniless following the death of his parents, joins a traveling circus after dropping out of school. Once there, the student befriends the abused animals.
Witherspoon will play the (elephant?) rider Marlena, the wife of a less-than-friendly — or rather, a vicious, brutal, psychotic animal trainer (probably Penn). Contracts haven't been finalized, yet, for either Pattinson or Penn. Production on Water for Elephants is expected to begin in June.
Among other announced Pattinson projects or upcoming releases are Remember Me, which will be out in a few weeks; The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, which comes out in early summer; and Bel Ami, which is currently in the works.