Wachowskis, Tykwer Talk 'Cloud Atlas' Cast With Cannes Buyers (Cannes)

CANNES – Famously publicity-shy directors Andy and Lana Wachowski flew into to Cannes Thursday to present, with German helmer Tom Tykwer, the cast list of their trio’s upcoming mega-project Cloud Atlas, to buyers and distributors.

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Susan Surandon and Jim Broadbent have joined the Cloud cast, which also includes Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugo Weaving and Ben Whishaw.

The film, is an adaptation of the epic novel by David Mitchell which follows six storylines, each set in a different place and era, stretching from the 19th century to a post-apocalyptic future. Each actor in the film will be playing multiple roles.

The Wachowskis, creators of the Matrix trilogy and Tykwer, whose films include Run, Lola, Run and Perfume, have co-written and will co-direct Cloud Atlas. At Cannes’ Olympia Cinema on Thursday, the trio discussed their vision of the film in front of crowd of international buyers. James Schamus, CEO of Focus Features, which is selling Cloud Atlas worldwide, moderated the panel.

Stefan Ardnt of Germany’s X Filme and Grant Hill of  Anarchos Pictures in the U.S. will produce the film, with Phillip Lee as executive producer. Berlin-based A Company recently boarded the project as a co-producer/co-financer and has taken rights to the film in Russia and Eastern Europe.

Shooting on the film, which is budgeted at $100 million plus, is set to start in September. Warner Bros. will release Cloud Atlas in North America.