Tom Hanks to play lead role in Cloud Atlas

Tom Hanks is the latest actor to join the cast ensemble of of the movie Cloud Atlas. The Larry Crowne star himself has confirmed to act in the upcoming movie, which is based on 2004 Booker Prize winner novel. The actor will star alongside Hollywood actress Julia Roberts in the film.

Wachowski siblings have bought the rights of David Mitchell's fiction novel in 2009. The movie Cloud Atlas will start shooting from September 2011. The movie is being directed by Tom Tykwer and produced by DreamWorks, while Disney will distribute it under its Touchstone Pictures banner.

Besides direction, Tom Tykwer is also penning screenplay for the film Cloud Atlas. The story consists of six stories that take viewers from the remote South Pacific in the 19th century to a distant, post-apocalyptic future. All six stories become intricately related to each other.

Meanwhile, Andy Wachowski and Lana Wachowski co-write and co-direct the movie Cloud Atlas. Halle Berry, James McAvoy, Ian McKellen and Natalie Portman are other actors are reportedly playing other lead roles in the film, which is expected to release in 2013.