Robert Pattinson has ditched his vampire fangs for a top hat and a Parisian lifestyle.

In Bel Ami, Pattinson plays Georges Duroy, a newcomer and social climber who charms his way into the lives (and bedrooms) of notable women, including Madeleine Forestier (Uma Thurman), Madame Walter (Kristin Scott Thomas) and Clotilde de Marelle (Christina Ricci).

A new trailer for the film, based on the 1885 Guy de Maupassant French novel of the same name, was released by Studio Canal on Thursday.

Bel Ami is not to be confused with the nearly three-decade old gay porn film company, which shares the same name and was founded by a Slovak who operated under the name George Duroy -- a tribute to the novel's main character.

Pattinson fans may be shocked to find that his new character is not too desirable in real life -- the trailer paints Duroy as a selfish and menacing individual.

It's so clear to me. There is no next life, and I am going to live, he says in the trailer.

Pattinson is, of course, fresh from the recently released The Twilight Saga; Breaking Dawn - Part 1, the second to last film adaptation from Stephenie Meyers' Twilight book series. Since its Nov. 18 release, the film has grossed more than $648 million worldwide.

While the 25-year-old British actor plays a Frenchman in Bel Ami, Pattinson unfortunately does not rock an impressive French accent. In fact, in true Hollywood fashion, the Bel Ami cast delivers dialogue via their British best, once again, providing a confusing take on a French classic.

The release of Bel Ami is sandwiched in between Pattinson's last two Twilight films. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 arrives in theaters on Nov. 16, 2012, eight months after the release of Bel Ami.

Pattinson is no stranger to non-Twilight films. But when he's not playing vampire heartthrob Edward Cullen, Pattinson's films tend to dip both in critics' circles and box office numbers. His last non-Twilight film, Water for Elephants opposite Reese Witherspoon and Christoph Waltz, received mixed reviews, while his coming-of-age drama Remember Me only made $56 million at the box office.

Let's hope Bel Ami allows Pattinson to prove he can carry a box office without his famous fangs and sparkly skin.

Bel Ami opens in theaters on Mar. 2, 2012. Scroll down for the new trailer, courtesy of MSN UK.

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