As much as I hate to admit it, Robert Pattinson is a smart guy. He’s effectively leveraging his status as the object of millions of young girls’ affections to grab better roles in projects with better filmmakers. After getting to work with accomplished TV director Allen Coulter on Remember Me, he segued into period drama with the forthcoming Water For Elephants, opposite Oscar winner’s Reese Witherspoon and Christoph Waltz. He’s now on tap to star in director David Cronenberg’s new film Cosmopolis, another interesting turn for Hollywood’s young heartthrob.

Even more interesting is the fact that he’s replacing Colin Farrell, an actor with much more credibility and known ability, in the lead role. The fact that he was even considered to fill Farrell’s shoes is a vote of confidence from Cronenberg and a possible sign of things to come. In Cosmopolis, Pattinson will play Eric Packer, a wealthy financial wunderkind who risks his entire fortune as he runs the gauntlet in a futuristic Manhattan. His deeds make him the target of an assassination plot in a drama that is said to be a study of capitalism.

Cronenberg adapted Don DeLillo’s novel and will produce and direct the film, which is also attracting top-tier talent for its supporting roles. Academy Award winner Marion Cotillard and nominee Paul Giamatti are said to be circling roles; the former could play Pattinson’s wife. There’s no word on when production would start, as Pattinson still has work to be done on the final Twilight films and Cronenberg is editing A Dangerous Method. My only hope is that the filmmaker finds a role for his current muse Viggo Mortensen; he could only add good things to this promising project.