Fox 2000 Bringing 'Water for Elephants'
Filed under: Drama, Romance, Deals, Scripts, 20th Century Fox, Newsstand
The bidding war is over, and Fox 2000 has emerged triumphant, clutching the rights to Sara Gruen's bestseller Water for Elephants, which they are promptly putting on the fast track. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Francis Lawrence is attached to direct, and Richard LaGravenese is adapting it for the big screen.I'll be honest and admit I haven't read the book -- I'm always behind when it comes to bestsellers because I tend to haunt the nonfiction and classic shelves. The book is the recollections of a 90-year-old man, who, in his youth, ran away and joined a B-level circus during the Depression. It's a job rife with animal and human cruelty. He falls in love with the wife of an abusive and mentally-ill animal trainer. While all of this suggests it is depressing as hell and ends badly, a glance through Amazon.com's reviews suggest otherwise.
Fox 2000 president Elizabeth Gabler acknowledges the riskiness of the subject matter, but is confident that the adaptation will attract "a lot of talented people," particuarly with LaGravenese's reputation as a solid "adapter". Here I want to say that an adaptation of a heart-wrenching and dramatic novel can't go wrong -- but it can. I can't really think of many New York Times bestsellers not named Cormac McCarthy or J.K. Rowling who end up with really solid and popular films. Otherwise, they tend to end up like Angela's Ashes and White Oleander which, while not terrible films, fell rather flat for most critics and fans of the material, and have largely been forgotten. Let's hope Water for Elephants will be one of the lucky ones -- and if you're a fan of the book, here's your chance to tell me what you hope they get right.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-11-2008 @ 7:29AM
Emily said...
When i read this book I thought it could be a wonderful movie - I'm looking forward to this one.
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9-11-2008 @ 8:39AM
Robin said...
Please, please, get the casting right. Jacob should not be played by Ashton Kutcher or Seann William Scott. Please find some talented actors. Please. I'd like to personally nominate Alan Tudyk for the role ;). Or that guy that is in Life, the TV show.
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9-15-2008 @ 6:24PM
dreadpirate82 said...
Cormac McCarthy has had two adaptations thus far, and one of them was a huge flop.
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9-13-2008 @ 5:33PM
Kris said...
One of my FAVORITE books ever...I have heard the real stories that Gruen incorporates into her storyline and she has blended "old circus" as well as anyone can. It's a brisk easy read and the movie will hopefully do this lovely book justice. I can't wait!
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9-16-2008 @ 6:03PM
sheena said...
I think someone like Ryan Gosling would be a good Jacob. Add a little auburn to his hair and he would be good. Marlina I see someone like Charleze Therone (spelling). August would be good played by Dominic Purcell
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9-16-2008 @ 9:11PM
mandy said...
what about scarlett johansen for marlena? ryan gosling's good for jacob but then what about August
9-16-2008 @ 9:10PM
mandy said...
this book is GREAT... i think that scarlett johansen would be perfect for marlena. i cant wait to see this movie though
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9-17-2008 @ 12:17PM
sheena said...
You are right. Scarlett would be good. Maybe August can be Daniel Craig. I see Big Al as Christopher Walken.
9-26-2008 @ 12:26PM
Patricia Minton said...
Are you kidding me. The one and only person to play August is Robert Downey, JR.
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11-10-2008 @ 3:50PM
Stephen said...
Christian Bale would make a great August. I agree that Daniel Craig would be good too. As for Jacob, definitely not Ryan Gosling. People are just saying that because there were flashbacks from an man's perspective in The Notebook. Leonardo DiCaprio would be perfect for the role. He has done a great job conveying a lot of inner struggling to his audience in past films (Departed, Blood Diamond, etc). I would suggest maybe using an up-and-coming actress to play Marlena, but if you wanted an A-list actress, I would suggest Liv Tyler or Jessica Alba.
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11-16-2008 @ 11:42PM
Anastasia said...
I think Shia Labeouf would make the perfect Jacob. I agree with others about Liv Tyler as Marlena and Daniel Craig as August. I can't wait to see who is cast and I really can't wait to see the movie!!!
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11-17-2008 @ 7:29PM
Frances said...
I'm sorry, but you have to remember that Marlena is only supposed to be about 19 or 20, so it would be better to have someone actually around that age play her, rather than scarlett johansen, and I agree with someone when they said that this needs to be well cast, with a talented cast, preferably somewhat unknown.
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