Christoph Waltz in "Water for Elephants"?

By our guest blogger, Matt Jussim

Best Supporting Actor Oscar nominee Christoph Waltz is making a deal to star with Reese Witherspoon and Robert Pattinson in "Water for Elephants."

According to Deadline.com: Francis Lawrence is directing the Richard LaGravanese-scripted adaptation of the Sara Gruen novel for Fox 2000. The role at first appeared to belong to Sean Penn who's been on a self-imposed big screen sabbatical, but the deal went south.

Instead, Waltz will play the lead in the Depression-era romantic triangle involving a veterinary medicine student (Pattinson) who joins a second-rate traveling circus and falls for the star performer (Witherspoon). Waltz will play her husband, a dangerous paranoid schizophrenic animal trainer who is as mean to his wife as he is to the circus creatures.

Waltz was a journeyman German TV actor when Quentin Tarantino cast him to play Col. Hans Landa, the charmingly manipulative Nazi officer. The role got him a Hollywood agent at ICM, and the chance to make Hollywood films. Pending a deal, this would be Waltz’s second studio role. He also will star as the villain opposite Seth Rogen in "The Green Hornet" for Columbia Pictures.

Waltz was phenomenal in “Inglourious Basterds” and it would be ridiculous if he doesn’t take home the award on Oscar night. I’m extremely glad that he has a couple projects lined up because he proved with “Basterds” that he belongs on the big screen.

Shooting is scheduled for later this year, before Pattinson starts "Breaking Dawn" and Lawrence gets going on "Sgt. Rock."