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Halle Berry in 'Cloud Atlas', Says Wachowskis Shooting Next Year

by Alex Billington
November 29, 2010
Source: NataliePortman.com

We're still not sure what to expect with the Wachowskis' other gay Iraq war project Cobalt Neural 9, but there's a possibility that the siblings may actually be preparing to shoot a new adaptation next summer. The project is called Cloud Atlas and it's one we've definitely heard of before as its been publicly known that the Wachowskis wrote the script based on David Mitchell's highly acclaimed novel. Its been rumored since earlier this summer that the cast might have Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, James McAvoy and Natalie Portman. Well, Berry confirmed her involvement last night at a Q&A (found on NataliePortman.com via The Playlist).

Here's the interesting thing - ever since first hearing about it a few years back, Cloud Atlas has been slated to be directed by Tom Tykwer (Run Lola Run, Perfume: The Story of a Murderer), only written/produced by the Wachowskis. Now that may still be the case, but Halle Berry spoke after a screening of her new film Frankie & Alice (video below) and said that she would be "doing a movie, probably in the summer, with the Wachowskis - not brothers anymore, but the Wachowskis - a really interesting movie." But that's not all. She drops a hint about how Cloud Atlas might be directed by the Wachowskis because of how unique the idea is.

"Sort of what they did for The Matrix, they have another really amazing idea that's sort of gunna… stretch our brains even further. So I'm really excited about that, that's probably going to be in the summer. And that's with Tom Hanks and Natalie Portman."

So she names Portman and Hanks as part of the cast, but apparently they're not fully confirmed yet either, as the NataliePortman.com post includes an update stating: "Have heard it's not a done deal yet. Looking more and more likely though." I really hope so, as this sounds like a fantastic cast for a Wachowskis project.

Mitchell's Cloud Atlas, published in 2004, is a novel comprised of six separate but loosely related narratives that weave together history, science, suspense, humor and pathos. The book spans a variety of genres: "from Melvillean high-seas drama to California noir and dystopian fantasy." That is exactly why it's not only very hard to adapt, but also why Berry's hint that it might "stretch our brains even further" has me wondering if they're going to try and bring all of those story elements together in a bigger epic that the Wachowskis will direct themselves instead of Tykwer. The Playlist says they might be "possibly directing a few of the novel's six interlocking story lines." So maybe it could be an anthology piece with multiple directors? Who knows.

For now, don't take any of this as confirmed news despite coming from Halle Berry, but it sounds like things are moving and the cast is coming together. When we last heard, they were still trying to secure the cast, but production was heading towards a start next year. We will keep everyone updated, as this honestly sounds a lot more interesting than the other Cobalt Neural 9 project. Check out the full Halle Berry Q&A video below.

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