Today brings the first images of Robert Pattinson, Reese Witherspoon, and Christoph Waltz from 20th Century Fox's adaptation of the Sara Gruen novel Water for Elephants. The period drama revolves around a young veterinary student (Pattinson) and his experiences caring for the animals in a traveling circus during the early years of the Great Depression.

Hal Holbrook, Mark Povinelli, Jim Norton, James Frain, Ken Foree, and Paul Schneider also star; Francis Lawrence (I Am Legend) directs from a script by Richard LaGravenese (Conviction).  Hit the jump for the full image and synopsis.

As a young man, Jacob Jankowski (Robert Pattinson) was tossed by fate onto a rickety train that was home to the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. It was the early part of the great Depression, and for Jacob, now ninety, the circus world he remembers was both his salvation and a living hell. A veterinary student just shy of a degree, he was put in charge of caring for the circus menagerie.

It was there that he met Marlena (Reese Witherspoon), the beautiful equestrian star married to August (Christoph Waltz), the charismatic but twisted animal trainer. And he met Rosie, an un-trainable elephant who was the great gray hope for this third-rate traveling show. The bond that grew among this unlikely trio was one of love and trust, and, ultimately, it was their only hope for survival.

Water for Elephants opens April 15, 2011.  Via Algonquin Books: