Cloud Atlas
Directed by: Lana Wachowski, Andy Wachowski, Tom Tykwer
Written by: Lana Wachowski, Andy Wachowski, Tom Tykwer
Starring Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Jim Broadbent, Hugo Weaving, Jim Sturgess, Ben Whishaw, Hugh Grant, Susan Sarandon, Doona Bae, James D’Arcy
Warner Bros. Pictures
Rated R | 164 minutes
Release Date: October 26, 2012

Based on the 2004 novel by British author David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas is an epic story of the human condition in which the consequences of our decisions impact one another throughout the past, present, and future.

Written and directed by Lana Wachowski and Andy Wachowski (The Matrix Trilogy) and Tom Tykwer (Run Lola Run), Cloud Atlas is a collection of six stories that traverse time and space.

Within the first 20 minutes of this epic sci-fi adventure, you’ll be transported from post-apocalyptic Hawaii to the 19th-century South Pacific, to 2144’s Neo Seoul, where enslaved clones called ‘fabricants’ fight the status quo. You’ll then jump to 1931 Zedelgem, Belgium, to the estate of an eccentric composer, before visiting 1973 San Francisco and 21st-century London.

Each member of the film’s impressive ensemble cast, which includes Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Jim Broadbent, Hugo Weaving, Jim Sturgess, Ben Whishaw, and Hugh Grant, plays upwards of six different characters throughout the film’s multiple narratives, often switching gender and ethnicity.

A slew of new promotional material for Cloud Atlas is hitting the marketing wire, and it does a great job of showing the ambitious scope of The Wachowskis‘ latest film. The project is difficult to describe largely because it features a large cast playing as multiple characters cross various time periods. In the film these actors play a variety of roles, some which requires the actor to play something outside of their own race, age, and even sexuality. Now seven promotional banners put these roles and time periods up on display. Check out the seven new banners, plus two tv spots here below.

There has been positive buzz circling around Cloud Atlas since it made its official debut at the Toronto International Film Festival. Critics have praised The Wachowskis (Andy and Lana) and Tom Twyker for creating a movie that is not limited to one genre. Others have praised the make-up used to change the actors’ appearances.

The Tom Tykwer, Andy and Lana Wachowski-directed epic Cloud Atlas will hit the film festival circuit, making its official debut at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). Since we’ve seen so little of this film (outside of the usual leaked photos and end of principal photography photo) we were bound to see some official images from the set.

Check out two new images here below.

Entertainment Weekly has posted the first two images from the movie. In it, we get our first looks at Tom Hanks and Halle Berry, as well as Jim Broadbent and Ben Whishaw.

When Tom Tykwer and Andy & Lana Wachowski completed the principal photography for the adaptation of David Mitchell‘s Cloud Atlas in late December, it had no distributor. But that’s why we have film festivals like the one being held at Cannes. According to Thompson on Hollywood, Warner Bros. has picked up the distribution rights for Cloud Atlas for $20 million, and will release the movie on December 6th, which is the perfect time to release a movie if you are aiming for some awards.

But what makes Cloud Atlas so ambitious is that it will have multiple stories taking place in multiple generations with multiple characters involved. The film stars Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugo Weaving, Ben Whishaw, Susan Sarandon, Jim Broadbent, Hugh Grant, and Bae Doona, all of whom will be playing these multiple characters in these stories that span generations.