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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Using the magic of Twitter, Arianna Huffington, found of the liberal news blog The Huffington Post, may have leaked the news of the next movie from the Wachowski Siblings (I would say “Brothers” but Huffington tweeted the first image of Lana, formerly Larry, Wachowski).  Peter at /Film broke the story of Huffington tweeting photos from the set of what she believed to be the Wachowskis look back on the Iraq War from 90 years in the future.  The photos show Huffington in front of a green screen wearing a funky hairdo.  However, Devin over at CHUD reports that Huffington was just shooting test footage-most likely for the cameras which are RED.  But camera tests for what?

Erik over at Cinematical pointed out that the Wachowskis optioned David Mitchell’s novel Cloud Atlas, which is an anthology of six separate but loosely related narratives of varying times, places, and genres.  Back to Peter, he notes that the Wachowskis intended to produce the film for Tom Twyker (Run Lola Run), but since Twyker just wrapped on a movie called called Drei (Three), it’s unlikely he’s going to swing back behind the camera on another movie.  So have the Wachowskis picked it up?  Oh, Ms. Huffington.  What have you done?

Hit the jump to check out her photos from the set of whatever she was doing.