Cloud Atlas

Release Date and Runtime Announced for The Wachowski Siblings & Tom Twyker’s CLOUD ATLAS

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: May 17th, 2012 at 11:03 am

The Wachowski Siblings and Tom Twyker‘s highly ambitious adaptation of Cloud Atlas now has a release date and a run-time.  According to Thompson on Hollywood, Warner Bros. has picked up distribution rights at Cannes for $20 million, and will release the movie on December 6th.  Additionally, the movie reportedly runs at 2-hours and 44-minutes, which seems about right when you consider that the movie spans six time periods, and you have an ensemble cast each playing multiple roles.  For example, Hugh Grant will be playing six “incredibly evil” characters in the movie, and Halle Berry said one of her roles is a Jewish woman in the 1930s, and another is an old tribal woman.

Hit the jump for a synopsis.  Cloud Atlas also stars Tom Hanks, Susan Sarandon, Hugo Weaving, Ben Whishaw, James D’Arcy, and Jim Sturgess.   Surprisingly, the only other film set to open the same weekend as Cloud Atlas is Hyde Park on Hudson, but the following Friday is the blockbuster one-two punch of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and Les Miserables.

Hugh Grant Playing Six “Incredibly Evil” Characters in The Wachowski Siblings and Tom Tykwer’s CLOUD ATLAS

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: February 15th, 2012 at 11:25 am

Always swinging for the fences, The Wachowski Siblings and Tom Tykwer‘s adaptation of David Mitchell‘s novel Cloud Atlas sounds incredibly ambitious.  The cast, which includes Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugh Weaving, Jim Broadbent, Jim Sturgess, Susan Sarandon, Ben Whishaw, and Hugh Grant, has each of the actors playing different characters in different eras.  Furthermore, the actors will be undergoing radical transformations for their roles.  Whishaw says the actors are swapping genders and races, and now Hugh Grant says he has cameos as six “incredibly evil” characters, which is a radical transformation from his standard “charmingly befuddled” character.

Hit the jump for more.

New Image and Concept Art from The Wachowskis’ CLOUD ATLAS Depicts Seoul in 2144

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: December 27th, 2011 at 9:33 am

We saw the first image from production on The Wachowskis‘ Cloud Atlas last week.  The photo teased fans of the book with various artifacts strewn about the room, but left the rest of us in the dark as to what Cloud Atlas will look like.  A new image has surfaced along with two pieces of concept art that provide a little more insight.  One of the images is labeled “Seoul, 2144.”  Unsurprisingly, a futuristic world imagined by The Wachowskis and co-director Tom Tykwer is very enticing.

The movie is an ambitious adaptation of the book by David Mitchell, which tells six stories that span multiple continents and centuries.  Halle Barry, Hugh Grant, Tom Hanks, Susan Sarandon, Hugo Weaving, Ben Whishaw, James D’Arcy, and Jim Sturgess will play multiple roles in the film.  Hit the jump to check out the images.

First Official Behind the Scenes Image from The Wachowskis’ CLOUD ATLAS

by Brendan Bettinger    Posted: December 21st, 2011 at 7:36 pm

The Wachowskis and Tom Tykwer are currently working on an adaptation of Cloud Atlas starring Halle Barry, Hugh Grant, Tom Hanks, Susan Sarandon, Hugo Weaving, Ben Whishaw, James D’Arcy, and Jim Sturgess.  As someone who has not read the David Mitchell‘s book, it sounds very exciting.  Mitchell tells six stories that span multiple continents and centuries.  All the actors all playing multiple roles.  The Wachowskis are directing one unit, Tykwer is directing a second unit in parallel.  It’s all very ambitious stuff, and I am glad the Wachowskis still have the power to get this made after Speed Racer flopped.

The first official image from production on Cloud Atlas has surfaced.  I do not understand what’s going on within, but it has readers of the book excited.  Hit the jump to check it out.

New Details on The Wachowskis’ CLOUD ATLAS; Halle Berry Says She Plays a Jewish Woman in 1930s and an “Old Tribal Woman”

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: December 6th, 2011 at 11:34 am

The ambitious adaptation of David Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas is more than a little peculiar. Most of the actors in the star-studded ensemble are playing multiple roles, production is split between three directors and two separate units with two different crews (Andy and Lana Wachowski directing one unit, Tom Twyker directing the other), and the film is being financed by a hodgepodge of investors. It’s a smart business move that gives the famously secretive filmmakers an incredible amount of creative freedom for the epic undertaking. Today new details on the film have been revealed, with star Halle Berry saying two of the characters she plays include a Jewish woman in the 1930s and “an old tribal woman.” Hit the jump for much more.

Brittany Snow Set for A Capella Musical Comedy PITCH PERFECT; James D’Arcy Joins CLOUD ATLAS

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: September 27th, 2011 at 4:16 pm

We’ve got a couple of casting stories for you this evening. First up, Brittany Snow is the latest addition to the musical comedy Pitch Perfect. Avenue Q‘s Jason Moore is directing the pic, which centers on an all-girls college a capella group that is in the process of rebuilding in order to defeat the rival all-boys group. Risky Business reports that Snow will play Chloe, “a somewhat rigid personality” who eventually finds her place in the singing group. Anna Kendrick stars as the goth-like rebellious lead who joins the a capella team as an escape from her unhappy school life. Bridesmaids scene-stealer Rebel Wilson also stars.

Additionally, James D’Arcy (Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World) has joined the burgeoning cast of Cloud Atlas. Andy and Lana Wachowski and Tom Twyker are directing the star-studded adaptation, which they also wrote. Variety has the casting news, but no details on who D’Arcy will play. All the actors involved in the film are purportedly playing multiples roles and swapping gender and races for the character-heavy film. The cast includes Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Jim Sturgess, Susan Sarandon, Hugh Grant, Hugo Weaving, Ben Whishaw and Jim Broadbent. Hit the jump for a synopsis of the novel. Filming is currently underway in Glasgow, Scotland.

Set Photos from CLOUD ATLAS Featuring Halle Berry and Hugo Weaving

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: September 15th, 2011 at 8:16 pm

In a shocking move, tonight we’re bringing you set photos from a film that is not a comic-book and/or superhero movie (twist!). Instead, we’ve got some images from the ambitious adaptation of David Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas. Directed by Andy and Lana Wachowski and Tom Twyker, the film features a fairly impressive ensemble of actors that will be playing multiple characters, switching both gender and race. Today’s images feature Halle Berry and Hugo Weaving dressed in 70’s garb, in a scene that looks to be directed by Twyker.

Hit the jump to check out the images. The independently financed film also stars Tom Hanks, Susan Sarandon, Ben Whishaw, Jim Broadbent, and Jim Sturgess. Cloud Atlas is currently filming in Glasgow, Scotland.

Hugh Grant Joins Ever-Growing Cast of CLOUD ATLAS

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: September 13th, 2011 at 8:41 am

The cast of the ambitious adaptation of David Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas is apparently just not big enough. THR reports that Hugh Grant is the latest actor to join the film, which is being directed by Andy and Lana Wachowski and Tom Twyker. The three co-wrote the screenplay, which centers on six different interlocking storylines that take place across different locations and time periods. The cast now includes Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Ben Whishaw, Jim Broadbent, Susan Sarandon, Hugo Weaving, and Jim Sturgess.

The pic is being produced independently, but boasts a large budget for an indie. Last month Whishaw revealed that all the actors in the film will be playing multiple characters, swapping both gender and race. The production is definitely ambitious, and I’m really interested to see what the Wachowskis have up their sleeve as they haven’t directed a film since 2008’s Speed Racer. Shooting is set to get underway in Glasgow, Scotland.

Ben Whishaw Reveals Actors Will Swap Gender and Race for CLOUD ATLAS

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: August 31st, 2011 at 8:42 am

We knew that the Wachowski Siblings/Tom Tykwer’s adaptation of David Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas would be a little crazy.  We knew that the actors would be playing multiple characters.  But in a recent interview with Vulture, cast member Ben Whishaw reveals how crazy it’s going to get.  Whishaw tells Vulture, “Everyone in the cast is playing at least three parts, some big and some small… Everybody’s swapping race and gender, so it’s very ambitious and quite fun.”  For his parts, Whishaw is playing “Frobisher in the thirties; a female American in the seventies, in the Luisa Rey section; and a smallish role, where I’m basically an extra, in a modern-day nursing home, in the Timothy Cavendish section.”  For those unfamiliar with the book, it takes six nested stories across different locales and eras.  Folks who have read the novel say that it’s going to be a tough adaptation but that this approach may be the best way to do it.

However it turns out, I like the ambition although it’s tough to swap genders in a movie and not have it come off as comedic or to swap race and not have it come off as offensive.  Hit the jump for a synopsis of the novel.  Cloud Atlas also stars Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugo Weaving, Jim Broadbent, and Susan Sarandon.

Wachowskis and Tykwer to Shoot CLOUD ATLAS Next Month but with a Reduced Budget

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: August 22nd, 2011 at 7:21 am

The Wachowski Siblings and Tom Tykwer’s audacious adaptation of David Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas has been long in development but it will finally go before cameras in mid-to-late September.  Mitchell’s novel spans six different lifetimes across six different eras.  The film stars Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugo Weaving, Susan Sarandon, Ben Whishaw, and Jim Broadbent.  If you’re wondering about the ambition of the project, Weaving said back in May that he was playing six different characters, which sounds like each actor won’t be playing just one character in one time period.

However, the project will also be working with less money.  Producer Stefan Ardnt tells THR that the budget for Cloud will be “definitely lower” than then rumored $100 – $120 million, which isn’t too surprising.  Speed Racer was a flop and Tykwer has never worked with $100+ budget.  However, the production has gotten significant tax breaks by shooting about 80% of the movie in Babelsberg, Berlin and the surrounding area.  The film is also getting made due to a unique financing arrangement from Berlin bank IFB and German regional film funding body, the Medienboard.  Hit the jump for more details on Cloud Atlas.

Hugo Weaving Says He’s Playing Six Different Characters in CLOUD ATLAS

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: May 30th, 2011 at 8:52 am

Speaking to folks who have read David Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas, there seems to be a shared agreement that they don’t know how it can be adapted into a movie.  The novel spans across different eras and different lifetimes: “A reluctant voyager crossing the Pacific in 1850; a disinherited composer blagging a precarious livelihood in between-the-wars Belgium; a high-minded journalist in Governor Reagan’s California; a vanity publisher fleeing his gangland creditors; a genetically modified “dinery server” on death-row; and Zachry, a young Pacific Islander witnessing the nightfall of science and civilization”.  The film stars Tom Hanks, Hugo Weaving, Ben Whishaw, Halle Berry, Susan Sarandon, and Jim Broadbent, and all of the actors are playing multiple roles with Weaving revealing he gets to play six different characters.  Weaving explained to the Herald Sun [via The Playlist]:

“That’s a project that’s really exciting because all the actors will be playing more than one role I actually have six characters in the same film and they are all different people in six different stories.”

The Wachowski Siblings will be co-directing with Tom Tykwer and the ambition of the project makes this a movie to keep on your radar.  Filming is set to begin in September for a likely 2013 release.  Hit the jump for the synopsis of the novel.

Cannes Casting Call: Zoe Saldana Joins THE WORDS; Susan Sarandon and Jim Broadbent in Talks for CLOUD ATLAS

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: May 12th, 2011 at 8:23 am

Yesterday, we reported some casting news for The Words and The Wachowski Siblings/Tom Tykwer’s adaptation of Cloud Atlas.  Turns out those films weren’t quite finished in the casting department.  Producer Cassian Elwes has tweeted [via The Playlist] that Zoe Saldana will star alongside Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Irons, and Dennis Quaid in The Words.  The drama centers on a celebrated writer (Cooper) who must pay the price for stealing the work of another author (Irons).  I imagine the price is somewhat higher than the lawyer’s fees for the litigation that would most likely occur in a less-interesting movie.

In other casting news, ScreenDaily reports that Susan Sarandon and Jim Broadbent are in talks to join Tom Hanks, Hugo Weaving, Ben Whishaw, and Halle Berry in Cloud Atlas.  The movie is based on David Mitchell’s acclaimed novel that spans the progress of a soul across six separate existences across several centuries.  Shooting is planned to begin this September.  Hit the jump for a synopsis of the novel.

Hugo Weaving and Ben Whishaw Join the Wachowskis’ CLOUD ATLAS, Halle Berry Confirmed to Star

by Adam Chitwood    Posted: May 11th, 2011 at 11:53 am

As production nears closer for the big-budget adaptation of Cloud Atlas, the cast is starting to come together. Last month, Tom Hanks was confirmed to star in the adaptation that will be directed by the Wachowski siblings and Tom Tykwer (Run Lola Run). Now, THR reports that Hugo Weaving and Ben Whishaw (I’m Not There) have joined the cast. The report also confirms earlier rumors that Halle Berry will indeed appear in the film.

No word on which roles the actors will take on at the moment, but production is set to begin this fall. Warner Bros. is releasing the film in North America and Focus Features International is currently looking for buyers at Cannes. The Wachowskis and Twyker are writing the film as well as directing. Hit the jump to read the synopsis for David Mitchell’s novel.

Tom Hanks Confirmed to Star in CLOUD ATLAS; Wachowski Siblings and Tom Tykwer to Co-Write and Direct

by Matt Goldberg    Posted: April 12th, 2011 at 2:47 pm

As early as last summer, we heard that Tom Hanks would star in an adaptation of David Mitchell’s Cloud Atlas.  Then there was confusion over who would be writing and directing: The Wachowski Siblings and/or Tom Tykwer.  In January, Natalie Portman—who was also rumored to co-star—said that the Wachowskis and Tykwer were directing together.  Today, we have confirmation on both facts with Deadline reporting that Hanks will star and that the Wachowskis and Tykwer will write and direct the movie.

Portman also said she had a small role in the film, but there’s currently no confirmation that she’s on board at this point.  We’re also awaiting confirmation on whether or not James McAvoy and Halle Berry will be in the film, which is scheduled to begin shooting in September.  Hit the jump for more on the project including a synopsis of the novel.

Natalie Portman Denies Connection with BATMAN and SUPERMAN; Reveals That Tom Tykwer AND The Wachowskis Will Direct CLOUD ATLAS

by Bill Graham    Posted: January 5th, 2011 at 12:36 pm

Natalie Portman seems to be in everything these days. Previews for Thor, The Other Woman, Your Highness, and No Strings Attached are everywhere, and the Oscar campaign for her outstanding role in Black Swan is in high gear. Yet, according to her, she knows nothing about the upcoming The Dark Knight Rises or the unofficially titled Superman reboot by Zack Snyder. What she does know a little about is the long-gestating Cloud Atlas. While speaking with Entertainment Weekly (via The Playlist), Portman said that Tom Tykwer and the Wachowskis will direct the film together.

“I don’t know what’s going on with financing. I read it while doing V for Vendetta and I gave it to the Wachowskis and to Tom Tykwer. Now they’re directing it together, the three of them. I will have some acting role in it if it happens, but probably nothing major.”

Hit the jump for more on Cloud Atlas.

Copyright ©2005 - 2012. All Rights Reserved. California web design