Costner eyes berths for Modoc epic

It tells the joint biography of a man, Bram, and his elephant, Modoc, both born in a small German circus town on the same day in 1896. Bram was the son of an elephant trainer, and Modoc was the daughter of the trainer's prize performer. The boy and the elephant grew up side by side, but when the Wunderzircus and its animals were sold to America, Bram stowed away on the ship to avoid parting ways with the elephant.

The film's producer, Scott Steindorff (The Human Stain), and his Stone Village Pictures banner purchased the rights to the novel from literary agent Joel Gotler last month for a low-six-figure advance. Steindorff and Costner, who will also produce, will now look for a writer to adapt the novel. It is known that they are looking to shoot next year in Europe, India, the United States and possibly Africa.

Costner, last in theaters with the Disney Western Open Range, recently committed to another Disney Western, Horizon, and New Line's Taming Ben Taylor.