Twilight’s Robert Pattinson in Water for Elephants with Penn?

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According to Variety, the Twilight Saga star and the (multiple) Academy Award winner are “circling” the project, a Depression-era piece from Fox 2000. If either or both inks the deal they will be joining the already on-board Reese Witherspoon, in the adaptation being directed by Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend, Constantine). Regarding Robert Pattinson, the report goes on further to say that they expect “His deal is expected to close” and marks Penn’s participation as the less probable of the two actors.

Fitting ages with synopsis, it would seem likely that Pattinson would play the role of the novel’s Jacob, described as 21 year old who leaves veterinarian school to joins the circus after the death of his parents, where he falls in love with Marlena (Reese Witherspoon). The problem being that Marlena is married to a chap named August, the circus animal trailer. As /Film states, it’s a bit up in the air what Role Penn would be eyeing, whether it is of August, or “impresario Uncle Al”, and they point to Deadline Hollwood’s report tabbing him as the former.

Looking at Lawrence’s track record (I have not read Gruen’s novel) I liked I Am Legend (on some level) well enough, though at the same time I’d freely admit it had little to with Matheson’s masterpiece, and I probably don’t hate Constantine as much as some people do (though again, I’d say it has little to with the Vertigo-foundational character).Water for Elephants will be adapted by Richard LaGravenese, who will write the screenplay for Sara Gruen’s bestselling novel of the same name, published by Algonquin Books (wow, score for them!) in 2006. Water for Elephants is expected to start filming in June

The Synopsis for Gruen’s Novel - An atmospheric, gritty, and compelling novel of star-crossed lovers, set in the circus world circa 1932, by the bestselling author of Riding Lessons. When Jacob Jankowski, recently orphaned and suddenly adrift, jumps onto a passing train, he enters a world of freaks, grifters, and misfits, a second-rate circus struggling to survive during the Great Depression, making one-night stands in town after endless town. A veterinary student who almost earned his degree, Jacob is put in charge of caring for the circus menagerie. It is there that he meets Marlena, the beautiful young star of the equestrian act, who is married to August, the charismatic but twisted animal trainer. He also meets Rosie, an elephant who seems untrainable until he discovers a way to reach her. Beautifully written, Water for Elephants is illuminated by a wonderful sense of time and place. It tells a story of a love between two people that overcomes incredible odds in a world in which even love is a luxury that few can afford.