The moment you think about theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, the first image that pops up in our head is that of a man paralysed and in a wheelchair. So what would a biopic of his offer?

The moment you think about theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking, the first image that pops up in our head is that of a man paralysed and in a wheelchair. So what would a biopic of his offer? Sure, he's done amazing work as a scientist and is considered one of the brightest minds of our times, but can writing a PhD or papers on quantum physics be the stuff of which a movie is made?

Director James Marsh seems to think so. Hawking's early years, his academic triumphs and his struggle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), a motor neurone disease that he developed at the age of 21, are all part of Marsh's new film, The Theory of Everything.

That's not all. From the look of things, there is also a great romance being told in The Theory of Everything, which is based on Hawking's first wife's memoir of their time together.

Watch the trailer here:

In the trailer we see the gorgeous Eddie Redmayne transform into the dorky yet attractive Hawking. Felicity Jones plays the role of Jane Wilde. Hawking met Wilde a few months before he was diagnosed with ALS. Doctors gave him just about two years to live. This pushed Hawking into severe depression and the only thing that kept him going was Wilde and her determination that the disease would not bring either him or them down.

Unfazed by the diagnosis of Hawking being terminally ill, Wilde convinced Hawkings that not only should they be together, but they also got married. Several people warned her that a relationship with Hawking wouldn't be good for her. Hawking's father even told her very bluntly that Hawking "will not be ability to fulfill a marital relationship", but none of this deterred Wilde.

The two married in 1965, stayed together for 30 years and had three children. It's not clear whether Marsh is going to go into their separation, but his film will certainly cover a large part of their marriage, including when Hawking almost died and how he started using the speech generating device that would speak for him. The trailer does seem to take a few cues from The Beautiful Mind (blame it on Universal Studios, which has produced both films) but if Marsh stays true to his documentary filmmaking background, The Theory of Everything promises to be packed with good performances and a gripping story.

The Theory of Everything also stars David Thewlis, Emily Watson and Harry Lloyd. It will be screened at the Toronto International Film Festival later this year.

The film will hit the screens in USA on 7 December and in UK on 2 January.