In today's "casting news that makes you go 'Oooo,'" Robert Pattinson and Sean Penn are in talks to star in the film adaptation of Water For Elephants, the Great Depression-era story by author Sara Gruen. The novel follows a veterinary student who leaves his schooling after his parents are killed, and instead takes up with the circus. He "sees the brutality of circus life while falling for the wife of an abusive animal trainer." Reese Witherspoon is already attached to the project; throw Penn in, and Pattinson has officially landed himself in legit A-lister territory.
Assuming that Pattinson plays the lead role and Witherspoon and Penn are the married couple, it sounds like Reese and Robert will be a pretty interesting (pretty hot?) onscreen couple. Do you think Pattinson has the talent to keep up with acting heavyweights like Oscar winners Penn and Witherspoon?
Christian Louboutin
Alexander Wang
Milano
Great news!!!!!
1I loved this book and I think these 3 actors are a great fit. Especially Penn and Pattinson. Can't wait for this....though it should be a while till it hits the big screen.
2ugh. I hope he at least gets to keep his accent. His acting talent disappears when he americanizes himself. Must be too hard for him to convey emotion when he has to worry about his accent.
3hawt!
4Wow! Really great news!!! I love the book me too and I love Rob!
5yes, yes, yes.
6Awesome news!!!!!
sounds amazing!
7NO! NO! NO!
Joseph Gordon Levitt as Jacob
Natalie Portman as Marlene
And Zachary Quinto or Javier Bardem or Hugh Jackman as August.
August has to be violent and brutal and yet turn on a dime and be charming and seductive and dazzling.. NO Sean Penn!
Why does HW always screw up the adaptations! ARRGGHH!
8In with the Oscar winners, huh. Let's see what he's got!
9Why do people keep questioning Rob's acting talents? He's wonderful. He plays Edward Cullen right. People just don't understand Edward's character in New Moon..
10Great book, interesting casting...
11Reese & Rob already worked together once in "Vanity Fair". I think he played her son. But Rob just had one scene which was an alternate ending and got deleted
12Wow, that sounds amazing. He's really involving himself in some pretty awesome projects- and I'm happy for him. They're not really my type of movies, though, I prefer the way Kristen is picking her projects.
13i loved this book!
i like all 3 actors separately, but i'm not sure about together. i can see reese as marlena, but the age gap btwn her and rob is too much! i think she was only a year or 2 older than jacob in the book.
i can see sean penn as being the evil, smarmy side of august, but definitely not the charming, handsom august (like another poster said). hugh jackman would be great, but he can't have every role out there!
14NOOO! NO NO NONONONONONO.
This was a fantastic, beautiful book, and it would be a tragedy to put Pattinson in the lead. He is a terrible, terrible actor. This is seriously disappointing news. Yet another adaptation of a beautiful book that will turn out to be a disaster. Sigh.
15Go for it ROBERT! You'll be great.
16i LOVED this book.. i'm hesitant about the picks but I can't wait to see this book on film, but it probably won't be as good as the image I had in my head while reading it
17i love anonymous' picks for the actors - i totally could have seen joseph gordon levitt as jacob!
I think Rob has a chance to do this film and get an Oscar.
18Reading this book now. I could see Rob as Jacob, but he would have to lose the English accent (sorry anon #3, but Jacob was American, Polish American at that). Maybe it's me, but I think they need to find someone younger for Marlena, and someone more attrative for August.
19This is Robs chance to prove himself! He certainly has some interesting projects coming up with Bel Ami, Unbound Captives and now this. He's not taking the easy way out and choosing big blockbusters but rather complicated roles. Rob is a pretty decent actor who is still feeling his way through Hollywood, don't judge him by Twilight because really that saga doesn't showcase anyones acting in a good light. I've seen some of his previous roles and he was excellent How to Be and The Haunted Airman are small indie movies but he really shows what he is capable of. He's a decent actor who seems to have a good head on his shoulders he just needs people to give him a chance. Hopefully his new film Remember Me will show prove people wrong.
20Absolutely no. Pattinson would ruin the lead character for me. His Twilight success is becoming too much.
21I like all of these actors (well, not Penn), but none of them really fit the parts. Which is really sad b/c Water for Elephants is one of the best books ever written... I hate that it seems like they are ruining the movie's potential before it even starts filming.
22NO to Pattinson. And it's not because I'm against him (hate him as Edward, liked him in Remember Me), but because I don't see him in that roll at all.
YES to Penn. Great pick.
I love Reece, but I'm not sure I like her in this roll.
If they pull off this adaptation, this movie could be a huge hit! Key word - IF!
23Hahaha, roLL = roLE.
Whoops.
24Post New Comment
Please share your opinion with our community, but make sure it is on topic and follows our Community Rules. We moderate comments and prohibit personal attacks, threats, spam, lewd images, or the promotion of your personal website.