Penn, Pattinson, Witherspoon Join the Circus

Published by Jeff Leins on: January 21st, 2010

While his Twilight co-star is busy at Sundance, Robert Pattinson may be signing to work with Oscar winners Reese Witherspoon and Sean Penn in Water for Elephants.  Director Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend, Constantine) is attached to the adaptation of the best-selling Sara Gruen novel.

The story centers on Jacob Jankowski, a veterinary student during the Great Depression who leaves school and joins up with the Benzini Brothers’ “Most Spectacular Show on Earth.”  21-year-old Jankowski (Pattinson) falls in love with Marlena (Witherspoon), the beautiful equestrian star of the traveling circus.  Matters are complicated by her abusive husband, August (Penn), a twisted animal trainer.

According to Variety, Pattinson is expected to close the deal soon, but Penn just returned to show business from a year long hiatus only to head to Haiti for humanitarian work.  If it happens, that makes for an intriguing mix of star power all directed by an odd pick for this sort of period piece.  Witherspoon and Penn are of course proven actors, but Pattinson’s roles outside of the stoic Edward have been laughable.  Little Ashes, another period drama, was a disaster.

These four names involved make this a wild project worth keeping an eye on.  Of course this means I’ll be bringing you my thoughts on the Richard LaGravanese script soon enough.  I’ve heard very good things.