The first trailer for romantic drama Water for Elephants, featuring Robert Pattinson, Reese Witherspoon and Christoph Waltz, has arrived online over at Apple.
Adapted from Sara Gruen’s best-selling novel by Richard LaGravenese, Water finds Pattinson in non-sparkly but still love-triangley territory as he plays Jacob (no, not that one), a veterinary student who joins up with a travelling circus to look after their animals.
There, he meets the beautiful and talented Marlena (Witherspoon) star performer and wife of ringmaster August (Waltz). Soon – who’d a thunk it? – Jacob is falling for Marlena and discovering that August has at least two sides to him: one charismatic and caring, the other brutal and unforgiving. The events play out in the memory of the older Jacob (Hal Holbrook), who recounts his life to the manager of a circus that he visits.
This represents something of a gear change for director Francis Lawrence, who has usually been found making horror/action thrillers such as Constantine and I Am Legend. But it certainly looks like it’ll offer plenty to those that crave a twinkly romance, some strings on the soundtrack, animals to gush over and Christoph Waltz being alternately charming and terse. Oh, and that Pattinson fella, who we understand has a bit of a following.
Water for Elephants rolls into the UK on April 22. Meanwhile, watch the trailer at Apple and let us know whether you think this’ll be Pattinson’s big break away from Bella and co.