The stage was set on Sunday (April 17) on a beautiful spring evening in New York for the world premiere of "Water for Elephants." The stars of director Francis Lawrence's highly anticipated period drama, adapted from Sara Gruen's best-selling book of the same name, arrived at the famed Ziegfeld Theatre to debut their film and greet hundreds of excited fans.

Early to arrive at the premiere of "Water for Elephants" -- which [article id="1661907"]streamed live on MTV.com[/article] -- were castmembers such as Christoph Waltz and Hal Holbrook. Of course, no one was a bigger draw than the film's leading man, Robert Pattinson. Though, truth be told, many on the red carpet were hoping to get a glimpse of his larger-than-life co-star, [article id="1661300"]Tai the elephant[/article].

No stranger to the mass hysteria he brings everywhere, Pattinson, looking dapper in a suit and tie, signed autographs and posed for pictures with the fans lined up across the even-busier-than-usual Manhattan street, many of whom had waited outside in rainy weather the day before.

After RPattz spent ample time with frenzied fans, he -- alongside leading lady (and newlywed) Reese Witherspoon -- found a moment to chat with MTV News on the red carpet. When asked if this premiere felt different from the "Twilight" series premieres, the actor said with a laugh, "Well, not that different."

But despite their enthusiasm for the 24-year-old star, it seems the "Water for Elephants" groupies have been much more subdued than the Twi-hards throughout the whole process. While many fans waited near the set throughout filming, hoping to catch a glimpse of him, Pattinson told us, "They weren't very scream-y," adding, "They were very nice fans."

The cries of the very vocal "Twilight" fans will no doubt be heard now that the franchise has completed wrapping. The actor -- who also told us that glitzy red-carpet premieres like these can feel like work but still be "kinda fun" -- revealed he was whisked away from the last day of filming "Breaking Dawn, Part 2" to make it to New York for his new film's big night.

Pattinson, who said he left the "Breaking Dawn" set in Vancouver around

1 a.m. on Sunday, told MTV, "It was a mad rush to get here." It was so tight, in fact, that the superstar was still filming some of his very last scenes as Edward Cullen. Pattinson said that while he was being taken away to go to NYC, the "Breaking Dawn" crew was pleading, " 'Come on, we need, like, one more shot!' "

Still, despite wrapping up "Breaking Dawn" and premiering "Water for Elephants" within just a matter of hours, Pattinson called the whole whirlwind experience "very exciting."

"Water for Elephants" arrives in theaters on Friday, April 22.

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